Elizabeth Frankini's Replacement Was Going to Be a Below Deck Alum

Just before Elizabeth Frankini was let go this season of Below Deck, Captain Lee Rosbach told Francesca Rubi that he already had someone ready to step in as a replacement. 

"I have somebody lined up, but I can't 100 percent guarantee that they're gonna get here because of travel restrictions with this health issue that we're experiencing," Captain Lee told the chief stew in the February 8 episode of Below Deck.

However, we never got to meet who was to be the newest member of the My Seanna crew. Captain Lee learned the next day that the final two groups of charter guests had cancelled, and he told the crew that their charter season was officially over.

We learned who would have replaced Elizabeth as stew during the Below Deck Season 8 reunion on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on February 22, and it's a familiar name to fans.

"Well, former Below Deck stew Josiah [Carter] was actually waiting in the wings, ready to replace Elizabeth after she was let go," host Andy Cohen revealed at the end of the reunion. "But the coronavirus derailed those plans. He was literally waiting at the airport, ready to go."

Andy then asked Captain Lee if Josiah would "have stepped into the team well and seamlessly." "Oh, absolutely. There's no doubt in my mind," Captain Lee said. "Si is extremely capable. He knows what needs to be done. He observes what needs to be done. His anticipation of guests' needs is remarkable. And that's what it takes."

We may not have gotten to see Josiah in Season 8 of Below Deck, but fans were able to catch up with him recently as one of the alums featured in Below Deck Galley Talk. Josiah dished on all the Below Deck Season 8 drama with his fellow stew and Brit Julia d'Albert Pusey, who appeared in Season 1 of Below Deck Mediterranean.

During the February 19 episode of Below Deck Galley Talk, Josiah recalled receiving the message from Captain Lee that the charter season had unexpectedly ended early and that they would not be needing him to step in as Elizabeth's replacement, after all. "I was in the airport, phone in hand, passport, ready to go on my flight. Like, literally boarding in half an hour's time," Josiah shared. "Captain Lee called me. He basically gave the speech that he just told [the My Seanna crew], and I was like, 'All right, OK.'"

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