Songs of Success

I know they've won ARIA awards and Logies. I realise their albums go platinum and their videos fly off store shelves. But I didn't think that Hi-5 were megastars until I dropped in on one of their concerts in Perth earlier this month.

Wow. The Perth Concert Hall was overflowing with ankle-biters, toddles, preschoolers and even the odd young teenagers - all clapping, dancing and singing along with the Hi-5 performers. And the parents didn't look too upset to be there either.

Hi-5's resident hunk, 22 year-old Nathan Foley says their success stems from their wide appeal.

"Our show appeals to so many people from 0 to 100," he says. "It's just a very happy show. Our main focus is the educational side of things but because the music is so catchy and Top 40 it appeals to the older set. The parents appreciate it and can get into it as well."

Various mums and dads polled at the Concert Hall gig admitted the fresh-faced five - Foley, Kellie Hoggart, Kathleen de Leon, Charli Robinson and Tim Harding - are easy on the eye.

While the kids might not feel confident enough to stop their idols in the street, Foley says the parents aren't shy. "The parents swamp you," he laughs. "They come up and say, 'I love your show, I watch it as much as my child does.' Some of them get more excited than the children do."

I doubt Bob the Builder or The Wiggles have to worry about their sex appeal ...

And speaking of Hi-5's competition in the children's entertainment market, Foley says there's enough room for every last dinosaur. "We're all one big family," he says. "We're all totally different, musically and educationally. There's only one thing in common - we're all here to entertain children."

Hi-5 have been entertaining kids since 1998 when their television show debuted on Channel 9. The group's busy touring schedule means they shoot series in three-month blocks, working 12 hours a day.

The performers and producers' young relatives form a test audience, and if something doesn't hit the mark they redo it. Even Foley's 13-year-old niece is a big fan of Hi-5.

Effervescent 27-year-old Hoggart - a former member of cutesy all girl pop group Teen Queens - is the youngest in her family and says she channels the child within for her Hi-5 performances. "I love kids and I love being a kid myself," she says. "You can't be fake so you really have to think back to when you were young."

The latest season starts today, landing back in the 9am weekdays - a slot shares on Channel 9 with Humphrey B Bear. "We can't get rid of Humphrey," laughs Hoggart. "He's a jolly old chap."

Apart from Humphrey, Hoggart lists Sesame Street, The Muppets and early 80s cartoon series G-Force as favourites. Foley said he was a fan of Superman, He-man and G.I. Joe when he was a kid.

Only filming one series per year means Hi-5 spend more time touring and recording albums than on their TV work.