Prior to production of the ninth series of Hi-5 in 2006, Kathleen de Leon Jones announced that she was pregnant, and that she would take maternity leave from the Hi-5 group from April onwards.
[3] Sun Park was introduced as her temporary replacement, while de Leon Jones gave birth to her first child in July.
[5][6] The ninth series premiered on 11 June 2007, with de Leon Jones making a guest appearance to announce her pregnancy and introduce Park to viewers.
[1] de Leon Jones stated that it was important to explain her pregnancy to the young audience, and show that "she [hadn't] just disappeared".
[1] While de Leon Jones initially stated that she was intent on returning to Hi-5, she later made the decision to permanently leave the group to focus on being a mother.