Emma Watkins has admitted that her departure from The Wiggles two years ago came with immense guilt.
The children’s entertainer, 35, tells this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that she hoped not to let down her fans, but was unable to avoid doing so.
‘In the pandemic, we weren’t touring, and I thought maybe I wouldn’t disappoint as many children’ she said.
‘But even though I had left during that time, I still disappointed children. So I am sorry to all the children at that time.’
Emma went on to say that some of her fans have followed her over to her new projects.
‘The parents will most likely say, “We actually had a ticket to come and watch you in 2021 and the pandemic happened. So we were refunded and then we were booked to see the next one and then you weren’t there. So now we’re coming to watch you [as Emma Memma, a new character she created] because this is our first time that we’ve been able to see you live.”
‘That’s a beautiful story, too. And that story is still playing out’.
Earlier this year, Emma revealed her exciting new career move, two years after leaving the iconic children’s group.
Emma Watkins has admitted that her departure from The Wiggles two years ago came with immense guilt. Pictured in Stellar Magazine
She has taken over hosting duties for the third series of the popular ABC reality show Teenage Boss: Next Level.
The popular show, which follows the lives of several teenagers managing their household budget, was hosted by mathematician Eddie Woo for the first two seasons.
Watkins expressed her delight about joining the show in a statement.
‘I’m thrilled to join the beloved show for its third series. I’m looking forward to working through the challenges of managing budgets with the teens themselves,’ she began.
‘Hoping to learn a thing or two myself. Tighten your purse strings, I’m on my way!’
The South Australian-filmed series is produced by McAvoy Media and aims to teach teenagers the ins and outs of responsible spending.
In 2022, Watkins shocked fans when she hung up her Yellow Wiggle costume after almost a decade in the world-famous children’s group.
The beloved entertainer revealed she had a ‘lovely’ conversation with her successor Tsehay Hawkins the night before she quit the band.
‘In the pandemic, we weren’t touring, and I thought maybe I wouldn’t disappoint as many children’ she said. ‘But even though I had left during that time, I still disappointed children. So I am sorry to all the children at that time’
Earlier this year, Emma revealed her exciting new career move, two years after leaving the iconic children’s group
She said Tsehay was excited to be stepping into her shoes and the two ‘couldn’t be in a better position’ since they had already performed together.
‘I wasn’t probably thinking very much the night before, but I do remember speaking to Tsehay on the phone, which was so lovely,’ she told 7Life, explaining she had already spent a long time contemplating her decision to leave.
‘I guess I was ready for a new chapter, but I probably didn’t know if I was going to be ready or not.’
Since quitting the kids’ supergroup last year, the former Yellow Wiggle has created a new character, Emma Memma, which she unveiled in July 2022.
Her alter ego still features Watkins’ trademark curly hair, but she has dyed it red to match her bright orange dress and pink shirt.
Read more in Stellar Magazine
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk