Hi-5 (British TV series)

Hi-5 (also known as Hi-5 UK) is a British children's television programme, based on the Australian children's TV series of the same name, which was premiered on Cartoonito and CITV on 3 November 2008.

Hi-5 is a variety-style series for preschoolers which features music as an integral part of its premise. The program features five presenters who are collectively known as Hi-5, and perform songs as a group as well as presenting individual segments.

The Puzzles and Patterns segment has a focus on logical thinking and mathematics, with a puppet named Jup Jup used as a tool for the presenter to complete puzzles or solve problems. The presenter of Body Move encourages children to participate in movement and dance, developing physical coordination and motor development. Linguistics and aural skills are at the centre of the Word Play segment, featuring a puppet named Chatterbox who assists in the exploration of language through stories and rhymes. Shapes in Space focuses on visual and spatial awareness, with the presenter exploring shapes, colour, and everyday materials such as boxes and playdough. Musicality is explored through Making Music, with an emphasis on pitch, rhythm, beat, melody, and using a variety of real and pretend instruments. The final segment in which the cast comes together is entitled Sharing Stories, where a story is told that explores interpersonal relationships and emotions. The episodes are opened and bookended with a Song of the Week; a pop-style feature song which corresponds with the weekly theme and sets an educational topic for the week's episodes.

Turner Broadcasting System Europe commissioned a UK version of Hi-5 in April 2008 under a deal with Australian entertainment group Southern Star, with Darrall Macqueen set to produce the series. Cartoonito would air the series later on in the year, while GMTV would air it in 2009.^[1] In October, it was announced that the series would be part of GMTV's "Fluffy Club" strand.^[2]