Here's What Changed Bugsy Drake's Mind About Working with Hannah Ferrier Again

Captain Sandy Yawn surprised the Below Deck Mediterranean crew and fans alike when she announced that Christine "Bugsy" Drake would be returning to fill in as the new second stew after Lara Flumiani's sudden departure earlier this season. 

In fact, Bugsy was just as shocked to get that call from Captain Sandy. "I was caught off guard completely, hearing from Captain Sandy," Bugsy recently told Decider. "I’d just finished [another] stint and was just taking a little bit of a break before I got on another boat. The call came at pretty much the perfect time."

However, Bugsy said that she wasn't quite sure about returning to Below Deck Med at first. "When I first got the call from her, I was a little bit apprehensive. I wasn’t really sure what position she was calling me in for," Bugsy, who had been a chief stew before working as a second stew in Season 2 of Below Deck Med, explained. "My questions for her were: 'What position am I coming to fulfill?' She mentioned it was a second stew position, and my first thoughts were: am I going to be working under Hannah [Ferrier] again? Which was kind of a thing for me, because I’d always said after last season, I’m done with Hannah. I would never take another second stew position. It was something I’d tried and tested and obviously didn’t work for me in [Season 2]. It was definitely a big no-no."

We all know that Bugsy ultimately agreed to climb aboard The Wellington, and she did so with an optimistic attitude about Hannah, even if their first time working together in Season 2 was full of drama for the stews. "But Sandy is somebody I really respect, and I kind of felt, well you know what, why not? I’ve got the time to do it. Might as well help her out, she’s in a bind," Bugsy told Decider. "Maybe it’s a shot at redemption for my relationship with Hannah. Maybe we can turn things around. I tried to look at it in a positive light."

Bugsy also said that she tried to take "a more humble approach" to her work this season. "I tried to put my ego aside," she said. "I think that helped with keeping it positive and light."

Hannah similarly shared during the June 29 episode of Below Deck Med that she was willing to leave whatever happened with Bugsy previously in the past in order to have a successful charter season. "I'm feeling a little bit apprehensive about Bugs. Will I trust her? No. Are we gonna be friends? No," Hannah said. "Are we gonna work together? Yes."

Bugsy also teased that we'll see a different side of her this season. "It’s been three years, I’ve matured and grown myself a lot. I’ve gotten to know myself a lot better," Bugsy told Decider. "Coming back onto the show, I was a lot more open to just being who I am. Just enjoying it, instead of trying to guard myself and guard any of my flaws. This time, I was just like, 'Take me as I am.'"

Bugsy expressed her excitement to be back on Below Deck Med and to have fans "join in on the adventure" in a post on Instagram on June 29. 

Following her first charter back as part of the Below Deck Med crew in the latest episode of the show, Bugsy also gave a sneak peek of what's to come this season. "Things only get CRAZIER from here on out!!" she teased in another post on Instagram on June 29. "I can’t wait to have you all along for this fantastic adventure!!"

Want more Below Deck Med? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on the entire series through the Bravo app.

It looks like things may already be heating up for Bugsy. See what we mean in the below preview.

Are Christine "Bugsy" Drake and Alex Radcliffe Hooking Up?