Taken from Daily Telegraph's Sydney Confidential!!
17th Aug 2002
NINE DENIES HI-5 TROUBLE
Hi-5 lovebirds Kellie Hoggart and Nathan Foley are devastated over reports that they are unhappy with the money they earn from the kiddies group.
Friends of the duo told CONFIDENTIAL yesterday that they are also upset over the report that said they have been forced by producers and the nine network to keep their two-year relationship a secret.
"That's just ridiculous," a friend said.
"They've hardly kept it a secret. They often attend red carpet events together and are photographed holding hands. Nine always made it clear it is up to their personal choice whether they choose to speak out about their love lives to the public.
"Charli has spoken to the women's mags about her impending nuptials while Kathleen de Leon, who is dating former Savage Garden Star Daniel Jones , has chosen to be more low profile about it.
Yesterday nine was reeling over the report which suggested that while producers and especially the network were making loads of money on the back of hi-5, the performers them-selves were "financial battlers" and "cash strapped".
"The article in [Melbourne's] Herald Sun did not represent Hi-5, Kids Like Us or the Nine Network accurately." Nine Network director of drama and Hi-5 executive Producer Kris Noble said "Both Kellie and Nathan feel they were misquoted and some of their comments were taken out of context.
"Its nine's policy not to discuss the private lives or contractual arrangements of its employee. All of us in HI-5, the cast, the network and the producers of Kids Like Us, are a really close-knit team in which everyone works well together."
The friend admitted that the group couldn't be doing too badly, considering all the members of the group have purchased real estate recently.
"The production costs for a show like hi-5 are quite high, especially as there is no advertising as it is a P-rated [pre-school] program," an insider said.
Note from KC: We now have confirmation that the SunHerald article was quite untrue. So don't freak out little Kell Fans. All is O.K after all, I guess.
