Tears, tension and open heart surgery: Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles exposes the backstage drama behind the world-famous children’s group

The Wiggles’ original line-up have peeled back the curtain on their lives and decades-long careers in the documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles.

It is a gripping recount of the history of Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt as they founded the world’s most popular kid’s entertainment group.

From life-threatening health issues to bitter breakups and fighting, here are the biggest bombshells dropped during the highly anticipated feature. 

Blue Wiggle Anthony, 60, opened up about his harrowing battle with depression throughout his incredibly successful career.

He said he was ‘bursting into tears backstage’ during The Wiggles’ very first tour in England and no one could understand what was wrong with him.

The Wiggles’ original line-up have peeled back the curtain on their lives and decades-long careers in the documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles. Pictured, left to right, Greg Page, Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt and Murray Cook

‘Talking to one of my brothers, I told him I felt sad all the time and he said, “What have you got to be sad about? You’re successful, you have got all the comforts – what’s wrong with you?”‘ Anthony said.

Murray, 63, who donned the red skivvy until 2012, confessed the group didn’t understand what depression looked like – nor did anyone in the ’90s. 

Anthony has since been very public about his mental health issues and has been seeing a psychologist for the past 35 years. 

If you, or someone you know, needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

It is a gripping recount of the history of Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt (all pictured) as they founded the world's most popular kid's entertainment group

It is a gripping recount of the history of Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt (all pictured) as they founded the world’s most popular kid’s entertainment group

During the documentary, Blue Wiggle Anthony, 60, opened up about his harrowing battle with depression throughout his incredibly successful career

During the documentary, Blue Wiggle Anthony, 60, opened up about his harrowing battle with depression throughout his incredibly successful career

His battle may have been exacerbated by leaving behind his six-week-old daughter Lucia, who is now a Blue Wiggle herself, when the group went on their first tour. 

Murray also struggled to leave behind his kids, recounting the heart-breaking moment his son Hamish said: ‘I don’t like music because it takes Daddy away.’

Meanwhile, Yellow Wiggle Greg, 51, found even leaving behind The Wiggles in 2006 due to poor health couldn’t save his marriage to Michelle Charlton.

The pair separated two years later, sharing daughter Madison and Greg’s stepson Blaine. 

He also shares daughter Lara and son Cameron with his current wife Vanessa Reid.

His battle may have been exacerbated by leaving behind his six-week-old daughter Lucia, who is now a Blue Wiggle herself, when the group went on their first tour

His battle may have been exacerbated by leaving behind his six-week-old daughter Lucia, who is now a Blue Wiggle herself, when the group went on their first tour

Murray, 63, also confessed he struggled to leave behind his kids, recounting the heart-breaking moment his son Hamish said: 'I don't like music because it takes Daddy away'

Murray, 63, also confessed he struggled to leave behind his kids, recounting the heart-breaking moment his son Hamish said: ‘I don’t like music because it takes Daddy away’

Greg later returned to The Wiggles in January 2020 for a special reunion which ended in tears when he had a heart-attack on stage. 

Murray became tearful when he recalled the harrowing moment Greg collapsed, saying: ‘First I thought he’d just overdone it, but then his eyes started rolling back.

‘Then first aid people were saying he’d stopped breathing. I thought he was dead. It was horrible to see… It was pretty distressing.’ 

However, the Yellow Wiggle wasn’t the only member of the quadruple to have heart problems, with three of the members requiring heart surgeries over the years. 

Greg was diagnosed with orthostatic intolerance and sometimes fainted during shows while Murray had open heart surgery in December 2021. 

Meanwhile, Greg, 51, returned to The Wiggles in January 2020 for a special reunion which ended in tears when he had a heart-attack on stage

Meanwhile, Greg, 51, returned to The Wiggles in January 2020 for a special reunion which ended in tears when he had a heart-attack on stage

Murray became tearful when he recalled the harrowing moment Greg collapsed, saying: 'First I thought he'd just overdone it, but then his eyes started rolling back'

Murray became tearful when he recalled the harrowing moment Greg collapsed, saying: ‘First I thought he’d just overdone it, but then his eyes started rolling back’

Purple Wiggle Jeff, 70, also had a pacemaker inserted following a terrifying accident which saw him blackout behind the wheel of a car and crash into a tree.

‘Luckily it was without any great velocity,’ Jeff assured. 

Finally, despite being all smiles and high energy every time they took to the stage together, Anthony, Murray, Greg and Jeff revealed they didn’t always get along behind-the-scenes. 

Purple Wiggle Jeff, 70, also had a pacemaker inserted following a terrifying accident which saw him blackout behind the wheel of a car and crash into a tree

Purple Wiggle Jeff, 70, also had a pacemaker inserted following a terrifying accident which saw him blackout behind the wheel of a car and crash into a tree

Anthony recalled one time he threw an entire drum kit at Greg after the Yellow Wiggle told him off for playing too loud backstage. 

The pair appeared to come to disagreements often as Greg still blames Anthony for a huge wet patch he once found on his skivvy right before he was meant to go on stage. 

‘If you see Greg, tell him I didn’t do the water,’ Anthony told producers of the documentary, recounting the moment Greg had a go at him for it seconds before they went on stage together. 

Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles premieres October 24 on Prime Video.

Despite being all smiles and high energy every time they took to the stage together, Anthony, Murray, Greg and Jeff revealed they didn't always get along behind-the-scenes

Despite being all smiles and high energy every time they took to the stage together, Anthony, Murray, Greg and Jeff revealed they didn’t always get along behind-the-scenes

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