The world’s most successful children’s entertainment group has been working overtime in recent months to present a polished image of togetherness despite the group’s two main stars, Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie, being embroiled in a marriage split.
And while all this has been going on, a friendship between The Wiggles’ founder Anthony Field and Dorothy the Dinosaur – aka Caterina Mete – has been flourishing.
Now, for the first time, behind-the-scenes pictures show that these work pals appear to be very close. They were spotted together while the group was on tour in the Queensland towns of Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville.
The close friends obviously enjoy spending downtime together whenever they can.
Anthony and Caterina did not leave each other’s sides during a recent tour and were seen shopping together on three separate outings. Caterina smiled warmly at Anthony as they walked around the stores picking up various items.
Sources tell New Idea the pair “are very close and seeing them together on tour makes you realise they have a bond”.
“Everywhere the band would go, Anthony would drive the van with The Wiggles in the back. Caterina was there in the front passenger seat every time,” the insider spilled.
According to the source, Anthony and Caterina were spotted together dining in cafes and restaurants.
“Anthony and Caterina would break away from (the rest of the group) and go shopping and eat,” the source said. “The pair laughed and smiled at each other all day long. This friendship is one built over a long time.”
The source went on to say that when the group checked in at hotels Anthony and Caterina would sign their forms together and would then take their suitcases off to the elevator.
“They were rarely apart from each other, but at the end of the day they are still nothing more than friends,” the source reveals.
Even though there may be nothing to it, it’s feared these new pictures will reignite unwarranted speculation.
Anthony and Caterina’s friendship has previously faced scrutiny. In 2009, images of the pair together on tour in the US surfaced and Caterina was forced to deny there was anything romantic going on between them.
“I’m not breaking up [Anthony’s] marriage,” Caterina said at the time.
Those pictures also showed them spending a lot of their spare time together visiting Elvis’ Graceland in Memphis, having breakfast at Little Rock, Arkansas, and eating dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Chicago.
According to a tour insider, on these occasions, Anthony would often pick up the bill.
At the time, The Wiggles’ manager, Paul Field denied any marriage troubles, saying in a statement: “Anthony and Miki face challenges like any other married couple but their relationship is rock solid.”
In 2013, his wife Michaela, who he married in 2003, spoke of how Anthony’s hectic schedule affected their marriage. At times, she said, she felt like a single mother, and that she was unable to always depend on him.
“Anthony travels at least seven months of the year, so I couldn’t rely on him too much for day-to-day maintenance,” she told Mamamia.
“I have an appreciation, understanding and respect for single mothers. Being on my own quite a bit, I understand the demands of being a single parent,” she added.
Since her admission, Anthony has made it clear that while he travels they stay in contact via Skype and when he is home the family spend as much time together as possible. ’’
The Wiggles formed in 1991 and are famous for their catchy tunes such as “Hot Potato” and “Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car”.
For the full story see this weeks issue of New Idea, on sale now.
