Daisy Kelliher Opens Up About Challenges with Ben Robinson on Below Deck Down Under

In a recent exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Daisy Kelliher, star of Below Deck Down Under, shared her thoughts on working with chef Ben Robinson, revealing that their relationship faced some significant challenges this season. Kelliher, who returns to screens on Monday, February 2, described Ben as a vibrant personality but also acknowledged the difficulties they encountered in the galley.

“This season in the galley, my big challenges [had to do with Ben],” Daisy said. “He’s an interesting person to work with. He’s really fun, he’s a great personality, and he’s great TV. But he is definitely a challenge.” The chief stew noted that she and Ben share some stubborn traits, which contributed to their conflicts. “Maybe we’re both as kind of stubborn as each other,” she remarked. “[Our issues were] kind of all of those things. It was the guest cabin, it was the way he managed his team, and the way he ran his galley. There were difficulties with communication — so timing and not envisioning service the same way. There were honestly a lot of difficulties and challenges.”

Despite their struggles, Daisy maintained a positive outlook on her relationship with Ben. She emphasized that he is “a hard person to stay angry at” and that both of them aimed to prioritize their guests’ satisfaction. “Neither of us wanted animosity, and I think both of us really wanted to give the best for the guests. With that being our primary focus, we were always able to come back to that and be like, ‘OK, look, we like each other. We have the same goal. How can we make this happen?'” she explained.

As the season progressed, however, some frustrations emerged. Daisy admitted, “Toward the end of the season, I was getting frustrated. We have a few flare-ups, and there’s definitely some arguments there. It’s difficult because I was trying to do a good job — as he was. Everything was honestly a challenge.” The season’s trailer caught viewers off guard when it featured Daisy accusing Ben of “living in the guest cabins.” However, she clarified, “It was basically every night off. He didn’t move in, but he moves in basically every night off.”

Daisy reflected on her strategy when dealing with Ben, explaining, “I let it go. Even [Captain] Jason [Chambers] is like, ‘Let it go and pick your battles.’ There were so many other things going on. It felt like this was a small thing to kind of argue, but I guess I just wouldn’t let it go and he wouldn’t let it go.” She humorously noted that Ben would sometimes take a guest robe just to annoy her, making the situation a running joke throughout the season. “As you’ll see throughout the season, he wears it all over the boat to wind me up. So, of course, I can’t let it go. I think he was doing stuff to push my buttons throughout the season,” Daisy said.

Reflecting on her overall experience with Ben, Daisy said, “I went into the season taking no prisoners. I knew what I wanted. I didn’t want to be taken for a fool, so I very much came in with that mindset. Ben challenged me, and he’s not easy to work with.” Despite the challenges, she felt that her time with Ben ultimately led to a mutual respect and camaraderie. “I think he also respected me. So, I think I really evolved as a chief stew and as a person — and it wasn’t easy. I don’t like confrontation, but I need it. I was so sure about what I wanted to achieve,” she shared.

Looking back, Daisy even expressed openness to working with Ben again, saying, “That’s always a tough one. If you’d asked me nine months ago, I probably would have said no. But now time has passed. I would. Ben is a great chef — whether he’d work with me or not. We got through the season, and we made some great tips. It wouldn’t be a show if we weren’t on each other’s throats.”

Catch all the drama, humor, and high seas adventures on Below Deck Down Under, airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with new episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.