The Wiggles yesterday tried to spin the return of the original Wiggle Greg Page as being all friendly and rosey but came across as a bunch of “Cockroaches” when they appeared in The Today Show this morning.
Anthony Field was completely uncomfortable answering questions about Sam Moran’s sudden departure when grilled this morning by Channel 9 entertainment editor Richard Wilkins on The Today Show.
When Wilkins asked the hard questions about the departure of Sam Moran and the return of original Wiggle Greg Page, Field responded, “What about Sam? Sam is … what do you mean?”
He then tried to explain “His contract came to an end. Do you go on with Sam? Do we come back with Greg? The energy felt right, that’s all”.
Anthony Field was all over the place when asked if Sam was an employee, not a stakeholder. “I had nothing to do with it, Richard”.
“Sam was an employee,” Wilkins reiterated.
Anthony: “Yeah, Sam was doing a job. If it was a musical he was doing the role of … um …. ahh.”
Richard: “He was a hired hand.”
Anthony: “Yeah”
Richard: “I gather this was news to him.”
Anthony: “Yeah it was news to him.”
Richard: “How did he take it?”
Anthony: “I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t know.”
Greg Page left The Wiggles 5 years ago and was replaced by Moran in November, 2006. Page was reported to have received a $20 million payout but Moran was on a salary of $200,000 a year.
In a prepared statement yesterday Sam said, “I am very proud of my five years as the Yellow Wiggle and the group’s continued success with me as their lead singer,” said Sam Moran.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my nine years touring with the group, but I now look forward to new opportunities and more time spent with my wife and two- year-old daughter,” he added.
Before they became The Wiggles, Anthony Field and Jeff Fatt were members of Sydney rock band The Cockroaches.
UPDATE: Sam Moran updates fans and says goodbye on YouTube
Watch the Richard Wilkins interview with The Wiggles here