SECRET LOVERS SPILL BEANS!
By NUI TE KOHA
16th August 2002
Hi-5 stars Nathan Foley and Kellie Hoggart are secret lovers with strict orders to keep their romance under wraps.
Hoggart,24, confirmed her off-camera affection for Foley has lasted two years, and endured concerns from both the kiddie's show producers and the broadcasting network, Channel 9, about the affair being exposed.
"Its hard to go out because people involved with the show do not want it to be public," Hoggart told the Herald Sun.
"Its about hi-5 , its not about Nathan and myself and that becomes difficult."
"But even then we are mature enough to go: ' Hey work is work and business is business'."
Foley, 22 said " i love going home, closing that door behind me and knowing that we can relax."
Hoggart and Foley revealed that they are finacial battlers, despite being ranked on BRW magazine's rich list 2 years in a row. Hi-5 made $6.9 million last year accourding to BRW.
But cash-strapped Hoggart said she signed to a salary sacrifice scheme with Nine just to be able to afford a car.
Foley is still struggling to pay off his vechicle.
"My dad rang me when the rich list come out and said:"Isn't that a funny thing?'" Hoggart said. " I'm like: "Yes dad, it is funny. Now, can i borrow some petrol money?'"
Hi-5s profits are shared between the shows producers, Posie Graem-Evans and Helena Harris, their company Kids Like Us,and merchandising and recording company interests.
Nine, which owns the show collects the most spoils.
Hoggart's history as a former pop star in Teen Queens has made her only too aware of the corporate Money-Go-Round.
"I didn't used to think that royalty cheques existed", she said."I thought it was a myth. I thought it was something they told you to get excited, and i started to expect nothing at all."
When hi-5 royalty cheques come- "and we dont get many"- Hoggart tells the others:"Praise the day! You should be excited! Its a royalty Cheque!"
The fact that they do come now and then reassures us. Its not that someone is cheating on us. It's the fact that the money system has to go a long way around before it gets to us.
"But in the end its not up to us, its whoever made the deal."
Said foley:" We are not rich at all. By no Means."
On camera and off, Hoggart saw the twinkle in Foley's eye two years ago. " we got on really well, we resoected eachother and it just went from there," she said.
"Other partners I've had have never been able to understand my job or profession.
"Nathan is different.He is very supportive, he encoirages me and i do the same for him."
Thier relationship does not ruin the hi-5 dynamic, she said.
"At work we are workmates,and Hi-5 gets on like brothers and sisters anyway."
Hi-5, a ratings, merchandise and music winner shown in 61 countries, is set for world domination next year. It will be screened in the UK and a US version will soon be shot.
Hi-5- Foley, Hoggart, Tim Harding, Charli Robinson and Kathleen De Leon- have a year left on their contracts.
"We are taking each day as it comes," said Foley."
Note from KC: We Love ya guys!!!! Altho, Anyone else detect a slither of Denial at Kell's age.?!?!? *laughs*
