Stew Alesia Harris had major news to drop when she informed chief stew Daisy Kelliher that second officer João Franco was interested in her romantically. But Daisy is hesitant about João, and she reveals why during the above first look at Below Deck Down Under Season 4, Episode 11, airing Monday, April 13 at 8/7c.
“It’s flattering to hear that João has a thing for me,” Daisy shares with producers, but adds that galley hand Elena “Ellie” Dubaich has already “marked her territory.” She continues, “So, they need to sort that out. And then also, Ellie’s petrifying.”
“Now [Ellie]’s really gonna stab me in my sleep,” Daisy jokes to Alesia in the clip. “She really likes him. She’s gonna bake him a birthday cake. If he did say that, Ellie can never find out.”
Daisy later shares that she plans to bring the “Ellie thing” up with João. Alesia agrees, adding, “You absolutely should, but you should do it over a glass of wine when it’s just you and him. As the sun’s going down.”
João Franco reveals his growing feelings for Daisy Kelliher
Although there’s been a flirtation all season, João first told producers of his true feelings for Daisy during the April 6 episode of Below Deck Down Under. “I do like Daisy. There’s no doubt about that,” he confessed. “She’s beautiful, you know? She’s very sweet. She’s kind. She’s protective. I love her accent. Very Irish.”
When producers asked why he’s not confessing his feelings to Daisy herself, he admitted he didn’t “want to scare her away.”
“I think that there is a form of chemistry that we’re trying to figure out, without making it obvious to each other,” he explained. “It’s holding your cards close to you, so that you don’t get disappointed. But, I can’t help myself from being drawn towards her.”
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However, João found himself in trouble when he ended up kissing Ellie in his bunk during the April 6 episode, setting up a potential boatmance triangle. “Oh my gosh, what a f—king d—khead,” he scolded himself afterwards. “What a cowardice, d—khead.”
João also told deck/stew Mike Durrant that he preferred Daisy over Ellie, and the news made its way to Alesia, who informed Daisy. “I heard through the grapevine that he doesn’t like her, and he fancies you,” Alesia shared at the end of the April 6 episode.
Daisy Kelliher and João Franco reveal why they were hesitant to begin a boatmance
Daisy is no stranger to messy boatmances, after being linked previously to her Below Deck Sailing Yacht crewmates Colin MacRae, Gary King, and Keith Allen.
“I walk on that boat, and I’ve got like an aura around me that just says, ‘Love me,’” she joked on the Below Deck Down Under After Show. “I don’t know what it is. It’s the salty sea air.”
With her history, Daisy would rather avoid another potential boatmance triangle. “I thought him and Ellie had something going on. I don’t really want to get involved in that. Like, she’s my roommate,” Daisy shared.
She also revealed she didn’t go into the charter season looking for a relationship. “I don’t walk into a situation like, ‘He’s going to be in love with me in three weeks.’ No, I’m quite bashful,” she told After Show producers. “I don’t really give out that energy…I think I almost give off like man repellent vibes.”
RELATED: Daisy Kelliher Reveals Where She Stands With Exes Colin MacRae & Keith Allen Today
As far as a romance with João, she added, “I certainly wasn’t looking that way or expecting him to be looking my way.”
João shared that he intentionally took it slow with Daisy because so much was on the line with their jobs. “If you’re gonna do it, make sure you’re doing it right. And make sure you’re doing it with absolute intention,” he said on the After Show. “Because if you don’t do it right, it can cost so much—and s—t trickles down, you know?”
He continued, “If Daisy and I have a problem, then the entire boat will feel that right from the top.”
Daisy agreed with João’s sentiment. “Obviously, I approach it with caution. It’s not something I’m gonna run into,” she said on the After Show. “I don’t want to set a bad example for the crew. I don’t want to cause problems. I don’t want to have any sort of negative drama. So, I approach, but approach with caution.”
Check out a preview of what’s to come for Daisy and João’s relationship as the Season 4 trailer hints at steamy kisses and hookups.
