You can take the star out of Shortland Street<\/a>, but you can\u2019t stop Ferndale following him into his next big venture. As Shorty fans reel over the shock exit of longtime cast member Ben Barrington<\/a>, who has played Dr Drew McCaskill since 2015, Woman\u2019s Day can reveal he\u2019ll soon be returning to our screens on Celebrity Treasure Island<\/a>!<\/p>\n But after pulling the plug on his stint on the medical drama, Ben\u2019s jaw dropped when he turned up to film the reality juggernaut to find his former co-star Ria Vandervis<\/a>, who played his late screen wife Harper Whitley, was joining him on CTI!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s freaking weird,\u201d he admits. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was surreal seeing her \u2013 like a body blow. But it\u2019s great because not only is she a familiar face, but she\u2019s somebody I\u2019ve negotiated seemingly insurmountable challenges with on Shorty.\u201d<\/p>\n The two played a married couple for more than seven years, until Harper died in the TVNZ 2 soap\u2019s 2024 cliffhanger. Of his own unexpected exit from Shorty, Ben tells us, \u201cThe producers said, \u2018We feel like you\u2019ve done your dash,\u2019 and I was like, \u2018I\u2019m ready for something else.\u2019 It was burnout in the sense that I\u2019ve done 10 years playing this character \u2013 I mean, Friends went for 10 years! I\u2019d just had enough. \u201cI\u2019ve had work every day for 10 years, which is fortunate in our industry, and I\u2019ve got nothing but fond memories, but it was time for me to move on. Fortunately, [production company] SPP was really good to me and has put me in their other shows as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben will star alongside another on-screen love interest, Shorty actress Jane Wills<\/a>, who played Dr Phil Grayson, in an episode of the new series of The Brokenwood Mysteries<\/a>, which is coming soon to Meanwhile, the actor had always thought CTI looked like a \u201chelluva good time\u201d and his mates who had previously competed on the reality show told him the experience would be \u201clife-changing\u201d. They advised him to be open, present and enjoy each day, rather than focus on winning challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m in for,\u201d Ben muses. <\/p>\n \u201cThey could completely turn the whole format upside down, so I could attempt to have a game plan and strategise, but it\u2019s probably a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what his biggest weakness will be, Ben reveals he was born with no sense of smell, so he\u2019ll be disadvantaged in any sensory challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a disability,\u201d shares Ben. <\/p>\n \u201cI can taste, but my taste probably isn\u2019t at 100% either. It means I can\u2019t appreciate freshly baked bread, perfume and flowers. But it\u2019s a double-edged sword because at least I can\u2019t smell farts and food\u2019s easy to resist because I can\u2019t smell donuts or KFC!\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond Brokenwood and CTI, Ben\u2019s back auditioning for jobs \u2013 his wife of seven years, Kristie Fergus<\/a>, describes the actor as a \u201cnightmare\u201d when he\u2019s out of work.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tricky without something to focus on and challenging to maintain momentum day to day when you don\u2019t have anywhere to be,\u201d admits Ben, who\u2019s previously starred in Outrageous Fortune<\/a> and He\u2019s grateful to Kristie for keeping their busy house running and being an \u201cexemplary mum\u201d to their nine-year-old daughter Harley as he navigates the ups and downs of showbiz.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s the heart and soul of our household,\u201d says Ben. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a home because of her. She\u2019s a wonderful partner, exceptional mother, good friend and carer. \u201cShe puts her family first and she\u2019s selfless. Kristie\u2019s ahead of the curve when it comes to looking out for other people. She\u2019s a sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n And Ben shares equally adorable Harley has inherited his love of performing, enjoying dance, singing and doing shows. If she considers acting when she\u2019s older, Ben\u2019s advice will be to continue pursuing other interests. As a qualified personal trainer himself, he\u2019d happily explore a career in fitness if the acting gigs dry up.<\/p>\n Ben explains, \u201cPerforming arts isn\u2019t the only thing anyone should be interested in doing. Harley might enjoy working in an office or being part of a sales team. If she enjoys that, she should do it, as well as getting herself an agent and going on auditions. \u201cWhen guiding and advising young people who want to go into performing arts, it\u2019s a mistake to say they shouldn\u2019t have a plan B and that it\u2019s got Ben enthuses, \u201cI\u2019m interested in being a personal trainer, as well as fitness and nutrition. I\u2019m interested in painting, plumbing and selling insurance. I could do that as well!\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/api.photon.aremedia.net.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/04\/13-4-26-ben-barrington-1-69dc076baf875.jpg?fit=1024%2C854&resize=1920%2C1600\")
Ben and Ria have been thrown back together again!<\/p>\nA new screen role<\/h2>\n
TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+.<\/p>\nNo game plan needed<\/h2>\n
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On CTI with Polly Gillespie (left) and Ria. (Credit: Matt Klitscher.)<\/p>\nLiving with a disability<\/h2>\n
The Almighty Johnsons.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/api.photon.aremedia.net.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/04\/13-4-26-ben-barrington-3-69dc076ceb58b.jpg?fit=1024%2C854&resize=1920%2C1600\")
(Credit: Matt Klitscher.)<\/p>\nLife behind the scenes<\/h2>\n
Raising a creative kid<\/h2>\n
to be all or nothing. That\u2019s irresponsible because you\u2019re depriving that person of a whole aspect of their character.\u201d<\/p>\nRelated<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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