What Does Ben Robinson's Famous Father Think of Below Deck Mediterranean?
The chef's family has some interesting reactions to #BelowDeckMed.
We got to know a little bit more about the outgoing yet elusive Chef Ben Robinson during Tuesday night's episode of Below Deck Mediterranean. One interesting tidbit that came out of him opening up about his past was that his father is the New York Times bestselling author Patrick Robinson.
Considering his high-profile and highly respected status, what does Ben's dad think of all of the shenanigans he has gotten up to on Below Deck and Below Deck Med? "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," Ben said during a recent interview with Starry Constellation Magazine. "But I think he is secretly very proud, probably more proud [than] he lets on. But he is a very conservative English chap."
Ben with his father Patrick Robinson.
Apparently, Ben's mother is an even bigger fan of the series. "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," he explained. "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."
Ben opened up about his family following the croissant drama on Tuesday night's episode of Below Deck Med with stewardess Julia d'Albert Pusey, who expressed that she believed his upbringing made him condescending toward her. "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," he explained. "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]"
Of course, that wasn't Ben's first run-in with the interior crew this season. His relationship with Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier has been especially tumultuous. "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," Ben told Starry Constellation Magazine. "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 [sic] effected by this."
Some of the tension between Ben and Hannah this season has been caused by his friendship with Danny Zureikat, who doesn't have many other allies onboard the Ionian Princess. "I think Daniel has an endearing side and I saw the volatility increasing on the deck," he said of their kinship. "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."
However, Ben and Danny's friendship may just be reserved for the workplace. "Between us, I would much rather hang out with Bobby [Giancola] and Bryan [Kattenburg] than Daniel. I consider Bobby and Bryan friends of mine, not so much Daniel," he said. "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."
But Ben did tell Starry Constellation Magazine that Danny was the most memorable part of this season. "Danny is hysterical [in] 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," Ben said. "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."
And we've loved watching Ben and the rest of the crew take on Greece. Get a taste of what's about to go down in the Mediterranean during next Tuesday night's episode of Below Deck Med at 9/8c, below.
