Emma Watkins reveals exciting new career change two years after leaving The Wiggles
Former Wiggle Emma Watkins has revealed her exciting new career move.
Two years after leaving the beloved children’s group and officially hanging up her yellow skivvy, the 34-year-old has been announced as the new host of popular ABC reality show Teenage Boss: Next Level.
The South Australian-filmed series is a social experiment which sees Aussie teens take financial responsibility of their household’s budget for an entire month, with the aim of teaching them how to spend money wisely – and Watkins can’t wait to get on-board to steer the ship and learn some tips along the way.
“I’m thrilled to join the beloved show, Teenage Boss for its third series,” said the star, who takes over hosting duties from mathematician Eddie Woo, who hosted the first two seasons.
“I’m looking forward to working through the challenges of managing budgets with the teens themselves and hoping to learn a thing or two myself,” she added in her statement.
“Tighten your purse strings – I’m on my way!”
Mathematician Eddie Woo hosted Teenage Boss for the first two seasons. Picture: ABC
Watkins shocked fans back in 2021 when she announced her departure from The Wiggles after 11 years. She first joined the group in 2012, taking over from original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page.
At the time, she explained that forced lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic caused her to re-evaluate “what was important in life”.
With Wiggles bandmates Simon Pryce, Lachlan Gillespie and Anthony Field.
“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,” she told her fans in a video message shared on Instagram.
“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.”
Watkins arrived at the 2023 ARIA Awards in character as Emma Memma. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Watkins said she was “eternally grateful” to The Wiggles for giving her the 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,” said Watkins, whose Yellow skivvy successor was 16-year-old Tsehay Hawkins.
In July 2022, one year after leaving the group, Watkins debuted her new orange-coloured singing and dancing alter ego Emma Memma, a fun-filled children’s character with a focus on Auslan – the majority sign language used by the Australian deaf community.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM
