Australian children's group The Wiggles is famous for many things.
Aside from their colourful skivvies and catchy songs such as Big Red Car, the 'Wiggles finger' gesture is a fun and often imitated Wiggles trademark.
However, the gesture, which involves wiggling the hands with just the thumb and index finger pointing outwards, hides a very sad fact about male entertainers who work with children.
No laughing matter: Former Wiggles member Murray Cook (right) revealed the devastating origins of the signature 'Wiggles finger' move on Monday
Wiggles co-founder Murray Cook told SBS' The Feed on Monday that the move was created to show where the entertainers' hands were when they were photographed with children.
'The thing of being a man in early childhood [education], when you're a teacher in early childhood, you have to be aware that you can be accused of things,' Murray, 58, told The Feed's Marc Fennell.
'In photos for instance, if there are kids there, if you've got your hands doing this [Wiggles finger gesture], everyone sees where your hands are.'
Popular! Aside from their colourful skivvies and catchy songs such as Big Red Car, the 'Wiggles finger' gesture is a fun and often imitated Wiggles trademark. Pictured: The Wiggles
He added: 'It's a shame that it's an issue, but it's an issue and you have to protect yourself, as well.'
Murray wore the famous red skivvy in The Wiggles for more than two decades.
Seven years after retiring from the group, the musician has embraced a
