Hi-5 are still enjoying their first childhood

Posted: 19 June 2009 1639 hrs

(L-R) Fely Irvine, Stevie Nicholson, Casey Burgess, Tim Maddren, Lauren Brant

SINGAPORE: Members of children's singing and dancing sensation Hi-5 may have crossed the big 20-year-old mark (the girls are 20 and the boys are 25), but they are still many kids' favourite playmates on television.

Their secret? Staying and being young, the group said, having their inner kids constantly come out and play, and having as much fun as humanly possible.

Basically, never grow up.

"We're still in our first childhood!" The group happily announced at a recent press conference at the Singapore Science centre, when asked if the five-piece were living their second childhood by being part of Hi-5.

"I have so many toys at home, I've lost count," said Tim Maddren. "I have radio controlled planes and jets and helicopters."

"We do tons of crazy stuff," Stevie Nicholson later told Channelnewsasia. "We were at Sentosa and we would race each other up and down the slopes. All of us are fun people and we won't let go of any opportunity to have fun. We make up all sorts of games when we are on tour.

"Such as, Tim dared Fely (Irvine) to wear a massive Hi-5 cushion glove all day, and she had to wear it all through the flight to Singapore, and try to eat with it on and it was hilarious. So next time during a concert, if you see Fely with the gloves you'd know what's going on."

Into their tenth year this year, the new generation of Hi-5 – Stevie, with new additions Tim, Fely, Lauren Brant and Casey Burgess, who were picked after a nationwide talent search down under – recently world premiered series 11 of Hi-5 on Singapore television.

The group are also celebrating their tenth anniversary with the Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009, where each member prepares a special surprise to help get ready for their friend Chats' surprise birthday party.

For the five-some, being a part of Hi-5 is a dream job come true. As teenagers, they used to dance in front of the television to previous generations of Hi-5. The group reckon the show could keep running for so long due to catchy music and innovative learning ways.

"At the end of the day the show is to help kids learn things and teach them things," said Casey. "But it's done in such a fun way that they don't feel like it's a chore to learn at all. The music is catchy and the dances easy to learn, kids can catch on very easily and be part of Hi-5."

The group, who said wearing colour-clashing clothes during performances is not a façade – they wear loud clothes outside of work too – are now the coolest aunts and uncles to their nieces and nephews, except Casey.

"My niece and nephew took my photo to show and tell, and said this is my uncle, he's in Hi-5, so now they're the coolest kids in school," said Tim.

"It's the other way round for me," said Casey. "Hi-5 is not as cool anymore because it's not anything far from them anymore it's in fact very close to them. And I'm never their favourite. Fely is their favourite.

But beneath all the child's play, the five-some understand the responsibilities that tag along with being superstars kids look up to. The group currently undertakes the role of ambassadors for World Vision, and travels to under-developed countries to perform for poor children.

"I feel that we have a huge opportunity to put a lot of good into the world with our work with world vision and other organisations," said Tim. "It's such a great opportunity for us to do good and I think that's really great."

And if the members were not part of Hi-5, they would still as happy and playful as ever.

Stevie would be "a transformer – well, I get to choose whatever I want to be, right?"; and Tim would be a singing sailor: "I'd be singing 'cos I have to sing. But I also like to sail so I'd be a singing sailor!"

Hi-5 Series 11 is now showing on okto from Mondays to Fridays at 12.30pm.

Hi-5 Surprise! Live Tour 2009 will hit Singapore shores from September 8 to 13 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, tickets will go on sale at Sistic from June 22.

- CNA/yb

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

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