Anthony Field on becoming a heartthrob in a blue skivvy.

When Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt first came together to create The Wiggles, none of them ever imagined it to turn into what it did. 

Worldwide tours, hoards of fanatic children and multiple Gold, Platinum and double Platinum records were not on their bingo card, but the most surprising part of it all was them suddenly turning into overnight heartthrobs – especially Field, who is the only original member still in the band.

Watch: Hot Potato: The Story Of The Wiggles - Trailer. Post continues below.

Field, who was best known for his wholesome persona, would take to the stage and perform classic hits like Fruit Salad and Rock-a-By Your Bear. And while the show was exclusively for children, the mums sitting on the sidelines enjoyed watching him the most. 

So much so that in 1999 Field was named Cleo Magazine’s Bachelor of the Year, something he still hasn’t been able to wrap his head around.  

Speaking to Mia Freedman on Mamamia’s No Filter podcast, Field talked about the moment they awarded him the title, saying at the time, he took it “very cynically”.

Anthony Field is the only original remaining member still in the band. Image: Instagram @thewiggles.

“I got hundreds and hundreds of letters, with photographs and all sorts of things [after being named Cleo Bachelor of the Year].

“I was just a lonely guy going back to my place with my mini fox terriers and I was not feeling very ‘Bachelor of the Year’!

“The good thing was I got on a plane the next day and flew to America and got away from it all. But Paul Paddock, who played Captain Feathersword, and who I shared a flat with, changed my answering machine message to: ‘This is Anthony from The Wiggles, I am Bachelor of the Year this year and I’m very happy to be, leave a message.’”

Now, 23 years later, the children who grew up watching The Wiggles are now parents, but instead of crushing on Field, their eyes are firmly fixated on another member of the band.

John Pearce.

Pearce, a Filipino-Australian singer and dancer who got his start in the hip-hop group Justice Crew, is the new purple Wiggle, wearing the skivvy alongside Lachlan Gillespie. While he was brought on because of his musical talent, it was his looks that garnered the most amount of attention.

Purple Wiggle John with original Purple Wiggle Jeff. Image: Instagram @johnpearce.

“When [John] became a Wiggle, his Instagram was full of DMs, especially because there were photos of him sitting down eating without a shirt on,” said Field, who brought Pearce into the band after a failed firefighter venture.

“I think there are sexist double standards when it comes to objectifying men. When John was first announced as a Wiggle, my sister Alice was defending his honour, telling people not to objectify him.

“But then on the other hand, she was telling me that she had the hots for John as well,” Field said with a laugh.

The interview also touched on Field’s marriage, and the time he lost with his children when on the road. Field shares three kids with his wife Michaela Patisteas (Mickey): Lucia Field, 19, Marie Claire Field, 18, and Antonio Carlos Field, 16. 

At the height of The Wiggles, there were times Mickey was left alone to take care of the children, something Field wishes he could go back and change if he had the chance.

“I think we just fell into a success that we never knew we were going to have. The plus side is, I made money to put the kids through school and give them a house and all that stuff. But the downside is, you lose a lot of bonding with the children, and it was very hard on Mickey.

“It’s not ideal to be on the road nine months of the year,” he admitted.

Anthony with his daughter Lucia. Image: Instagram @lucia_wiggle.

It was during COVID, when Field was forced to lockdown in his home, that he really got to know his children, saying it was “the best” time.

Field is now making up for lost time with his daughter Lucia, who followed in her dad’s footsteps and joined the band as the second Blue Wiggle. 

Field, who is 60 years old, has no plans of slowing down anytime soon, despite being the only original member remaining. Despite the ups and downs over the years, one thing is evident: He genuinely loves what he does.

To hear Anthony Field speak about The Wiggles, being a heartthrob, his mental health struggles and life since the inception of the world's most popular children's band........ Listen to Mia's full No Filter interview with him here. 

Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Feature image: Getty.