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Former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins has revealed she’s returning to Australian screens with her new children’s character Emma Memma.

Emma has finally revealed her new, AUSLAN-speaking character Emma Memma, who wears a bright orange dress and has a love for dance, sign language and music.

“Empowering the next generation through movement, creativity, inclusiveness, and friendship. Emma Memma, with her love of dance, sign language and music, brings visual communication to the forefront of the children’s media space,” Emma explained on her website.

“Emma Memma focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing.”

Emma explained to the Daily Telegraph the significance of Emma Memma’s colour and why she hopes her new persona will encourage more children to learn AUSLAN.

Emma Memma

“It feels like the colour represents this new chapter moving forward and because orange is symbolic of being happy, I think that is something we love to represent.

“Children learn and indicate with movement before they even talk and use any kind of spoken language. Gesture and movement is by far one of the most important connectors for children. Visual communication actually helps learning, which is why lots of children’s entertainment is colourful, it is bright and moving, because children engage with that.”

Emma Watkins Leaves The Wiggles

In news that broke little hearts all over the world, Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins announced she was hanging up her bow and leaving The Wiggles last October.

The super popular entertainer had been with The Wiggles for 11 years, spending nine of them as the Yellow Wiggle. The Wiggles announced Emma would be replaced with new Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins.

“The time has now come for me to pass the yellow skivvy on,” Emma explained in a social media video after her departure. “Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life. For me, that means spending more time at home, something that I didn’t realise I was missing out on being away eight months of the year on tour, but something that I have really cherished over the last 18 months.

“I am also really looking forward to devoting more time and energy on completing my PhD that incorporates my ongoing passion for sign language, dance and film editing, and to having more time to work with the deaf community. I am eternally grateful to The Wiggles for giving me the amazing opportunity to be the first female Wiggle, a role that I have loved and one that has brought me so much joy and an abundance of ‘bowtiful’ memories that I will treasure forever.”

Emma Wiggle leaving

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field also released a video on behalf of the group. “In 2013 Greg famously handed over the yellow skivvy to Emma, making her the first female Wiggle. We’ve had an amazing time with Emma over this period. And while we’re sad to see her go, we know she has many other passions she’d like to pursue.”

Anthony said as The Wiggles continue to evolve and look to the future they’re excited to be welcoming Tsehay into the yellow skivvy.

Tsehay new Yellow Wiggle

Sixteen-year-old Tsehay said she grew up watching The Wiggles and has already loved working with Anthony, Emma, Simon, Lachy, Evie, Kelly, John and all the Wiggly characters filming their latest TV series Fruit Salad TV.

“I’m now incredibly excited and honoured to be joining them now in the yellow skivvy and to have the chance to go out on the road in the new arena tour, I can’t wait to meet all the Wiggly fans,” she wrote on social media. “Dancing has always been my passion, and I look forward to being able to share the joy of song and dance with children all over the world! Thank you to Emma Wiggle for leading the way.”

  • She is very awesome. I work with special needs children and there really needs to be more of this sort of thing

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  • I don’t really follow her carrier but good on her.

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  • I love the idea that they are bringing out a specific hearing/sign show. This needs to be a standard subject in school

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  • I really think that this should be taught at school, would be so beneficial for kids and society.
    My kids love Emma :)

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  • So excited for Emma and excited for the new yellow wiggle!

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  • Love Emma but bit of a weird name to use even though it rhymes.

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  • Emma Memma! My babygirl adores you! My 10 year old daughter is learning sign, and now both my girls can watch you and learn AUSLAN together love it! I will too yay

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  • I wouldn’t mind learning AUSLAN myself. I think they should teach this in schools too.

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  • If anyone can make AUSLAN popular it will be Emma. She was a much loved Wiggle and will take that experience with her to her new venture. I think it would be great if all of us had some sign language knowledge – one never knows when it will be helpful.

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  • Aw, she is so gorgeous. There are many children out there who will love Emma Memma especially as she uses Auslan :)

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  • I think her new character is amazing and get for inclusivity. I think Auslan needs to be taught in all schools.

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  • This is great, I am glad she is doing something so inclusive, we really should learn Auslan at school. Go Emma memma!

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  • I really loved Emma Wiggle. She’s so talented! I love her passion for bringing sign language into children’s media although the new look looks quite over the top. Hope it all goes well!

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  • How clever Emma Memma. She is such a much-loved person, in spite of her Wiggles character, and I’m sure many of her Wiggles fans will follow and love her new role.

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  • She will make so many kids happy with this new character

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  • very happy for her! shes great at what she does and more kids should learn auslan

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  • I just had to comment on Emma Wiggle. very happy to see she has a new career but so sad she’s no longer with the wiggles. my granddaughters loved her so much and still today love having the same hair do

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  • Good luck in her new endeavors! I’m sure her fans will be interested.

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  • Wish her all the best- I know she’s had a lot of health issues.

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  • Wishing her all the best with her new show


    • I love it how passionate she is about Auslan and inclusion

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