OUR GRANDCHILDREN are all avid fans of the Aussie children’s show, “Hi 5”. They don’t ever get tired of watching its song and dance-filled episodes repeatedly. It was first aired in 1999 at Nine Network and has since been shown in 80 countries. Our grandkids know the original hosts by name: Kathleen de Leon (of Filipino ancestry), Tim Harding, Charli Robinson, Nathan Foley and Kellie Crawford. They hosted the show for ten years and were replaced in 2009. Child development experts and educators are actively involved in writing each episode so it’s no wonder the show won various awards as best children’s show.
Recently, TV5, the Happy Network, signed a contract with Hi-5 World, the show’s Aussie-based producers, to produce its local Filipinized version of “Hi-5”. Hi-5 producer and creative head Julie Green says she’s aware that Filipinos are passionate and loyal fans of their show and she’s confident that we can come up with our own entertaining and educational version of their much loved program. The search is now on for the five local talents who will be hosting the show that will be shown Monday to Friday at 8:30 AM.
