The thirteenth series of the children's television series Hi-5 aired between 17 October 2011 and 16 December 2011 on the Nine Network in Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star and Nine with Noel Price as executive producer.
This was the last series to feature Casey Burgess, Fely Irvine, and Tim Maddren. Lauren Brant and Stevie Nicholson continued as cast members in the spin-off series Hi-5 House.
Production
Following the Nine Network and Southern Star's acquisition of the Hi-5 franchise in 2008, a deal was made to produce five new series of the program featuring the "new generation" cast. Southern Star produced two of these series in 2009 and 2010, and begun production of the third in 2011. Noel Price returned as the executive producer for his third series, and all five cast members; Lauren Brant, Casey Burgess, Fely Irvine, Tim Maddren, and Stevie Nicholson, returned.
The thirteenth series premiered on 17 October 2011. The new set of episodes celebrated the program's musical history by reintroducing previous songs of the week to a new generation of fans. The classic songs were reinterpreted for the series, with new costumes and dance routines. Network directors Martin Hersov and Cathy Payne stated, "We know these will continue as hits with our new generation of fans.”
Irvine departed the cast in late 2011, soon after the series aired, with a network representative stating she was leaving to explore "other career options". This was the final series produced by the Nine Network and Southern Star, before Nine sold the Hi-5 franchise in 2012. The two remaining series originally ordered by Nine in 2009 were not produced.
Cast
Presenters Lauren Brant – Body Move Casey Burgess – Word Play Fely Irvine – Puzzles and Patterns Tim Maddren – Making Music Stevie Nicholson – Shapes in Space
Episodes
Home video releases Compilation releases Series DVD Title Release Date (Region 4) Songs of the Week Special features 13 Amazing DVD: 17 November 2011 Wow! Underwater Discovery L.O.V.E. 13 Ready or Not DVD: 5 January 2012 Ready or Not Robot Number One Five Senses 13 Make a Wish DVD: 1 March 2012 Wish Upon a Star Making Music Some Kind of Wonderful 13 Sharing Stories 3 DVD: 21 June 2012 Making Music Underwater Discovery Wish Upon a Star Robot Number One Wow! L.O.V.E. Five Senses Ready or Not Some Kind of Wonderful "Chats with Chats" featurette
Full episode releases Series DVD Title Release Date (Region 4) Songs of the Week Episodes Special features 13 Discovery DVD: 14 November 2012 Wow! Underwater Discovery Some Kind of Wonderful "Wonders of the World" (Series 13, Episode 1) "At the Beach" (Series 13, Episode 8) "Animal Friends" (Series 13, Episode 32) 13 Let's Play! DVD: 9 January 2013 Making Music Ready or Not Five Senses "Making Music" (Series 13, Episode 41) "Games" (Series 13, Episode 36) "Human Body" (Series 13, Episode 26) 13 Feeling Fine DVD: 6 March 2013 Five Senses L.O.V.E. Some Kind of Wonderful "Food" (Series 13, Episode 27) "Favourite Things" (Series 13, Episode 15) "Friendship" (Series 13, Episode 31) Hi-5 World Vision visit to Cambodia featurette
Notes
References
External links Hi-5 Website