Pre-school children of the world despair as Wiggles trio call time on 21-year career

To the uninitiated, the four Australian middle-aged men in rollneck sweaters do not look like multimillionaire performers with the capacity to sell out Madison Square Garden 12 nights in a row.

But for The Wiggles' massive army of pre-school fans, Jeff (Purple Wiggle), Anthony (Blue), Greg (Yellow) and Murray (Red) are bigger than Lady Gaga.

Yesterday, three of the group's founding members drew a line under a 21-year career of singing and dancing which has seen them named Australia's top-earning entertainers for four consecutive years, selling more than 30 million albums and DVDs combined and earning them an estimated A$45m (£28m) a year.

Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook and Greg Page said they would hand over their pullovers to replacement members at the end of their tour this year. The fourth member, Anthony Field, will remain. A statement on their website read: "We've been entertaining children around the world for 21 years and it's important that we plan for the future so that The Wiggles can keep wiggling in the years to come.

"The touring and performing over the past 21 years has meant that we've spent a long time away from our own families and friends. We miss them and want to spend more time at home."