Ben Robinson – Below Deck Mediterranean

By starrymag | July 12, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been working on?

A) Yeah, I have been kind of flying around cooking for people. I’ve done several gigs in Florida and I just came back from California. I’m just chilling out with my parents now for the week before I have to do more catered gigs.

Q) What do they think of you being on TV?

A) That’s an interesting question. I think they like it, actually. I think my mum loves it. There was a moment back then when I obviously didn’t come back for a time in Season Three and I could tell my mother was quite sad about that. It kind of took the limelight away. I think she kind of likes to be a part of it at her local tennis groups, book chats, etc. I think she is very proud. My dad is a famous author and I don’t think he is very surprised by it and kind of understands that sort of way of life. But I think he is secretly very proud, probably more proud then he lets on. But he is a very conservative English chap.

Q) What made you want to be a part of “Below Deck Mediterranean?”

A) Obviously, we’re in different waters and I have a kinship with the European waters and the Mediterranean having done that circuit previously in my career. It’s always bene sort of a dream of mine to go back, although it is a much tougher game for many logistically reasons. I saw it as a fresh start again and I was obviously very fortunate to be the sole representative of previous seasons coming into this brand new franchise – the Mediterranean. I just saw it as a clean slate and no one was bringing their dirty laundry on the boat.

Q) Do you enjoy working on a yacht rather than a restaurant?

A) It’s kind of touch and go. My original plan at the age of thirty was to get out of yachting, having done it for eight years and work my way to the top of the ladder starting on a 100-foot boat and finishing at a 300-foot boat. I felt that had kind of concluded that portion of my cooking career. Then, Bravo and I kind of found each other. And this is different. Although, I probably shouldn’t admit to that, but it is a different feel as we are doing a television show. It’s amazing being a part of a much better thing. It’s obviously way bigger than any other yacht because it is being televised and we have tons of production on board. It’s a real feast for the eyes and I’m actually getting an insight into that television world, which is needless to say fascinating.

Q) Is there a difference for you between shooting both series?

A) I felt that there was a natural sort of charge in the air that I hadn’t quite experienced before on “Below Deck.” Perhaps in the first season, it was just that excitement from both sides (cast and production). There is a buzz when you put all of these people in this amazing ancient territory that half of us thought we’d never get to. There was a certain energy within all of it that was very exciting to be a part of. I also thought that putting these new seven cast members onto the boat that because they had seen “Below Deck” and knew about it that people had a lot more confidence as cast members. And I felt like the cast members overall let their hair down a little bit and were a little bit more open to the television process. I detected less of a filter with the cast members. I think that’s because it had been around for a while and people were obviously aware of the show so they weren’t as intimidated by it.

Q) A lot of fans of the show have been looking to [Below Deck crew] Kate and Captain Lee to compare the two shows. Is that fair to the current crew?

A) I don’t think it is fair because they weren’t there. I also think that people need to appreciate it that it is a new set of rules and a new place and a new location and a new vibe and a new captain and a new Chief Stew. I don’t think it is completely fair to have the harsh comparisons. I think people should realize it is a different show and a new franchise. It’s a spinoff so I would like people to enjoy it rather than draw these harsh comparisons because no one is doing that with the Housewives. People need to realize this is another show. I think if people can get past that then they might be able to compare it more.

Q) You seemed to have a love/hate relationship with Hannah. Was it the close quarters that brings you together and pushes you away?

A) There was a love/hate relationship with Hannah and I. Yes. But, ultimately, Hannah is a great girl and we are very fond of each other. Nothing is ever really going to change that. I do think that, yes, that the close quarters of our work environment is going to have additional pressures. And, obviously, our work relationship will be effected by this.

Q) There as some controversy surrounding how Bryan treated Jen over the male crew. Did you notice a difference?

A) I think that he found Jen very difficult to work with, but I don’t necessarily think it had to completely do with her female status. She clearly was running around the boat telling everyone that she had more experience than everyone and she couldn’t tie a bowline. There is only one way of tying a bowline and there is no “Jen way” to tying a bowline. I think that would be quite frustrating for any deck leader to have someone sort of floundering the rest of the crew with very little to support her testimonies.

Q) We also saw you befriend Danny. Were you interested in mentoring him or was he more of an underdog that you wanted to look after?

A) I think Daniel has an endearing side and I saw the volatility increasing on the deck. I felt it was my place as the oldest cast member (other than the captain) and the most seasoned on the “Below Deck” circuit that there was a time to take him under my wing while staying neutral at the same time. There was a difficulty. Between us, I would much rather hang out with Bobby and Bryan than Daniel. I consider Bobby and Bryan friends of mine, not so much Daniel. I just felt like I didn’t like the direction of where the whole Danny scenario was going so I felt it might be best to step in and kind of buffer it.

Q) We saw this week some tension between you and Julia. Was it because she had sort of a bias towards your upbringing?

A) Julia needs to get her head around a few things. I think she may be confusing me thinking that I’m superior to me having superiority. I think that was kind of a deadly cocktail for Julia and a tough nut to swallow. It was actually one of the main reasons why I did leave England because I felt it wasn’t advantageous for me to be educated the way that I was and speak the way that I do. And I felt like there was much scorn in the countryside of this minority and perhaps the 2%. I realized America would embrace it rather than England would reject it. I think we saw that with Julia and that was actually a good example. So, well done Julia! [laughs]

Q) What were some of your memorable moments from filming “Below Deck Mediterranean?

A) Danny – that’s it. Danny is hysterical the way he handled the Tilted Kilt girls. There was just that blatant disregard to any authority, which is kind of amazing to see a grown man be that smitten. That was ridiculous. There were some great moments. Danny really has stolen a lot of the limelight, I reckon. I think he has done pretty well. I have just enjoyed all of it. It’s been really nice to revisit Greece on the television.

Q) Is there anything else about your time on “Below Deck” that you would like to be sure to share with fans?

A) I recently have become a certified health consultant, a holistic nutritionals. The tough thing is that I never really know whether I’m going back to “Below Deck.” It’s tough to tell clients to sign up for a six-month program, but I’ll be gone for a couple of months shooting in Timbuktu. So, just keep watching and keep loving the show. Thank you for everyone’s support. It’s great for me. I get a lot of stuff coming in through my platforms and it is really nice to have such a strong fanbase that is so interactive with the show. It is amazing! It’s a whole other force to it and it is exciting to be a part of it.

Q) Where can fans go online to book you as a chef and keep up to date with your work?

A) I do events. I’ll fly anywhere in the US to cook for as many people as you can throw at me. Please do visit my website at chefbenrobinson.com.

 

 

Below Deck Mediterranean airs Tuesday at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo