The wild new Wiggles character every parent is talking about

Some of the most engaging children’s entertainment is also, sadly, the most annoying. Watch any parent’s eye twitch when you mention CoComelon, and you’ll know this is true.

So why has a new Wiggles character become so popular with adults that he’s now a cult hero and internet sensation?

“This is my song, so I give it everything I can”: Dominic Field performs Rattlin’ Bog as the Tree of WisdomCredit: Edwina Pickles

The Tree of Wisdom – a joyful, if not completely manic, tree played by Dominic Field – has been intermittently going viral on TikTok since the character was introduced on Ready, Steady, Wiggle last year.

Parents have frequently posted clips of his absurdly high-energy dance moves, often scored by their uncontrollable laughing and captioned with messages such as “he has no business going this hard” or “I need whatever the Tree of Wisdom is on.”

But things have escalated in recent weeks. A clip of him dancing shared by the ABC iview account has now been viewed 9.3 million times, provoking global confusion and awe and inspiring videos in which people recreate the dance moves.

Some of the copycat clips have clocked up more than 1 million views, and many are made by people who don’t even appear to be parents.

“I hope this dude knows how much the internet loves him,” one comment reads.

“I ain’t got kids, but you can bet I’m vibin’ with tree man,” says another.

Dominic Field may not be responding to fans online, but he is reading your comments.

“It’s so funny,” he says. “People have started coming to the shows dressed as the tree, too. We’ve been joking that it looks like I’m dressing up as them because they have a better costume.”

The Tree of Wisdom’s costume is often compared to Old Gregg from The Mighty Boosh.Credit: Edwina Pickles

It’s true that much of the Tree’s appeal is in how downright daggy it is. The costume – and, in fact, the entire character – was slapped together at the last minute because the Wiggles wanted a tree (“a rare tree and a rattlin’ tree”) to accompany the Irish drinking song Rattlin’ Bog. Field’s costume is a button-up shirt with leaves pinned to it, a feather wig, a painted leaf moustache and khaki pants.

“It does look like I’m this random guy who just brought his own costume and started dancing,” he says, laughing.

This is a recurring idea online: “I just know he did this once as a joke off-camera and someone went ‘yaaass’ and it’s now canon”; “They told him ‘stay there’ and he heard ‘slay there.’”

In fact, Field – the nephew of Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and son of former manager Paul Field – has been in the Wiggles his whole life. He first appeared at age two in the 1996 video for Wake Up Jeff, he later started with the group as crew, and he’s been a full-time performer for the past seven years.

Though Field has previously filled in for Wags the Dog and Captain Feathersword, this is the first time he’s been able to make a character his own.

The direction from Anthony, he recalls, was “just have fun with it … I really took that note on”.

“I really try to go as hard as I can. It’s my one shot. This is my song, so I give it everything I can.”

Though Field does have some training – a year of jazz and Irish dancing – he says he was mainly “a bit of a footy player” in his younger years. The moves are all his own, drawn from Sydney nightclubs and weddings over the years.

“I think it’s connecting with people because of that ‘dance like no one’s watching’ thing. It doesn’t look too well-oiled or rehearsed. It’s just a guy having fun on stage and going nuts.”

Dominic Field as the Tree of WisdomCredit: The Age

The performer, who admits he doesn’t even drink coffee, puts so much energy into his work for the audience (“we take our jobs very seriously; I’m not half-hearting it”) and also for his wife, Stephanie Di Coio, who plays Dorothy the Dinosaur.

“I tried to make her laugh every time I did it,” he says. “I think I’ve accomplished that.”

He also changes up the moves during shows, which explains Lachy Wiggle’s happily confused facial expressions in many of the recordings. “It’s a test to make them laugh, and also keep the wig on.”

Kids also have so much fun trying to do the moves back to him, but he says, “I think you need fully matured necks to do some of it”.

So, will the Tree of Wisdom stick around like other iconic characters? Will Field be rattlin’ in the hole in the bog down in the valley-o in 30 years?

“Hopefully!” he says. “Maybe I’ll have to start drinking coffee.”

The Tree of Wisdom will perform at The Wiggles, Wiggle and Learn BIG SHOW currently touring Australia.

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