Ben Ian Kirk (also Kennedy-Kirk and Fitzgerald) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, last played by Felix Mallard. The character was previously played by Noah Sutherland, Sean Berends and Blake O'Leary. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 14 December 2001. Ben is the son of Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Drew Kirk (Dan Paris). Ben and Libby departed Ramsay Street in 2003, returning briefly the next year before moving to Shepparton with Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald). The family returned in 2007, with Libby and Ben remaining permanently. Ben departed Neighbours on 2 September 2010. In March 2014, it was announced that Ben and Libby would return, with Mallard cast as Ben. He made his screen return on 11 June 2014. The character returned again from 23 July 2015 until 16 November before making a permanent return on 31 March 2016, moving in with his grandparents. Mallard left the show in late 2017, with his on-screen departure airing on 10 April 2018. The character made two guest appearances on 31 December 2018 and 7 January 2019.
Development Early life In 2001, Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) gave birth to her and husband Drew Kirk's (Dan Paris) son. The birth placed Libby's life in danger and she was rushed to intensive care with blood loss. Paris said "All their worst fears are realised, they both knew the birth would be risky for both Libby and the child – and while the baby is alright, Libby is still fighting for her life". Libby makes a recovery and she is allowed to hold her son for the first time. Valentine said "It's a wonderful moment when Libby holds her new-born baby". Off set, Valentine and Paris both bonded with Noah Sutherland who played their on-screen baby. Valentine told TV Week that Sutherland was "a complete natural" and that she had bonded with him "straight away". Paris admitted that he was a little nervous around the baby, saying "Working with Noah has been quite daunting – it's unfamiliar territory to me.
Libby and Drew struggle to name their new son and after a debate, they decide on Ben. Valentine revealed that she asked the producers to name the baby Ben after a close friend of hers who had died a few years before. Ben's middle name, Ian, is a tribute to Neighbours writer Ian Coughlan. The couple were then seen arguing over Ben's surname, with Libby unconvinced that Ben should be a Kirk. They later decide that he should be Ben K, until they resolve the situation. Libby and Drew are forced to choose a surname as Ben's baptism approaches. Valentine commented, "Libby's parents, Karl and Susan, are beside themselves, because they think you can't baptise a baby with just a Christian name. And Lou Carpenter – who is godfather – also wants them to decide once and for all. Libby and Drew feel like everyone is ganging up on them!" The couple eventually settle on Kennedy Kirk, and Ben is baptised in the same church his parents were married in.
Return (2007) Following a brief appearance in 2004, the character and his mother returned permanently in 2007. Blake O'Leary originally auditioned for the role of Mickey Gannon, but his elder brother Fletcher O'Leary was handed the role instead. A few months later auditions for the character of Ben Kirk came up and O'Leary was cast in the role. Network Ten describe Ben as being "his mother's biggest supporter and her rock" following his father's death. They also say that Ben is a "loyal friend".
In August 2010, it was announced that O'Leary and Ben would be leaving the show in September. Of the reason for Ben's departure, a spokesperson said "The Ben character is younger than the other main kids, Sophie and Callum. They are now in high school, but Ben is still in junior school, so it was tricky to come up with storylines which involve all the kids".
Return (2014) On 11 March 2014, it was announced that the character would be returning to Neighbours with Felix Mallard in the role. Ben came back to Erinsborough with Libby, and their return coincided with the Kennedy family's 20th anniversary on the show. Mallard said that his first impression of Ben was that he was "a pretty chilled-out country sort of kid, and he then comes to Erinsborough and gets into a bit of trouble..." In 2015 producers decided to reintroduce Ben to the series independently of Libby, and Mallard reprised the role in July 2015. On-screen, Ben moved in with his grandparents Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) on Ramsay Street. Following a break to accommodate the end of his schooling, Mallard appeared on a permanent basis from March 2016.
One of Ben's early storylines upon his 2015 return was dealing with the consequences of sending naked pictures to his ex-girlfriend, Emma. When Ben returned to Erinsborough, he was alone and distressed. Karl and Susan encouraged him to tell them what had happened, and Ben explained that he had broken up with his girlfriend. Ben then begged them to let him move in, as he needed to get away from Ballarat. Ben befriended their neighbour Tyler Brennan (Travis Burns) and they bonded over a dirt bike ride, which ended with Ben telling Tyler that he broke up with Emma as she posted naked pictures of him on her social media.
Tyler supported Ben, who became "isolated" from everyone at Erinsborough High. Susan grew concerned after Ben deleted his social media account and skipped school, after receiving a text message from an old friend in Ballarat. Susan started to think that Ben might self-harm and forced Tyler to tell her the truth behind Ben's behaviour. Ben was "humiliated" when the pictures were leaked online and his classmates saw them. Susan tried to help Ben find a way to deal with his shame, but it was his teacher Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin) who suggested that he take control of the controversy. Ben filmed himself revealing the history behind the pictures and the guilt and shame he felt about the leak, before showing the video to his classmates.
Once Ben had finally adjusted to living in Erinsborough, Karl wanted to bond with his grandson and was pleased when Ben joined him in playing the guitar. Karl believed Ben had inherited his musical talents and suggested they form a band. Ben was "secretly appalled" by the idea, especially after Karl revealed they would be playing a gig at a local nursing home. Ben did not want to hurt his grandfather's feelings, so he kept quiet as Karl named their band K-Squared. Ben later told Susan that he did not want to be a part of the band and she encouraged him to speak to Karl, but he was worried about breaking his heart.
Erinsborough High fire In late 2015, the local high school was damaged by a fire. It soon emerged that Ben had accidentally started the fire. With Piper's encouragement, Ben lit a piece of paper on fire and held it under a sprinkler to set off the alarm system. However, it soon caused a "devastating fire" that left Piper's mother with burns to her body. Both Ben and Piper felt guilty about their actions, and Ben struggled as he watched Susan trying to deal with the aftermath. Although Piper urges him to keep quiet, Ben owns up to what he did and is charged with reckless conduct. As he realises that he is going to end up with a criminal record and a possible custodial sentence, Ben decides to run away with Piper. They get jobs as fruit pickers to raise money, but Piper has to work alone, as Ben struggles with pain from his fractured ribs, which he sustained after being struck by Sheila Canning's (Colette Mann) car. He later collapses.
Departure (2018) On 26 February 2018, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy confirmed Mallard had finished filming with the show in late 2017. Ben left Erinsborough on 19 March 2018, but he continued to make appearances via video calls after his departure. He made his final appearance on 10 April 2018. Ben's exit storyline begins with him feeling like he is "at a loose end", as he struggles to bond with Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) at the garage. He is also unsure about what he wants for his future, unlike his girlfriend Xanthe Canning (Lily Van der Meer). His parents' friend Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) takes him to Oakey to visit Drew's family, and his uncle Dougal Kirk (Brandon Burns) realises that Ben reminds him of Drew and finds it difficult to be around him. After bonding, Dougal offers Ben a job at his garage and Ben decides to move to Oakey.
Storylines After Libby was injured during a bike accident, she was told that she would not be able to carry a child to full-term. When Libby does fall pregnant, she decides to keep the baby, despite being told that she could be risking her own life. While attending a rodeo in Oakey, Libby becomes locked in a barn and she goes into labour. She is eventually found by her father, Karl, and husband, Drew Kirk, and airlifted to hospital. Although Libby almost dies, Ben is born safely, but kept in the hospital for a few weeks. After his birth, Ben almost dies when he is locked in Libby and Drew's house while it is being fumigated. Ben is saved by Summer Hoyland (Marissa Siketa) who opens the back door. Libby, Drew and Ben go to visit Drew's father up in Oakey. While out riding, Drew falls from his horse and he dies, leaving Ben fatherless. Libby begins a relationship with Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald) and they leave Ramsay Street to live in Shepparton. Libby and Ben return without Darren three years later and Libby explains that Darren cheated on her. Darren arrives and tells Susan and Karl that Libby constantly told him that he was not Ben's father. He ends up leaving the Street alone.
Darren and Libby's split hurt Ben as Darren had been the only father he had known. Libby enrols Ben at Erinsborough Primary and he becomes friends with neighbour Mickey Gannon (Fletcher O'Leary). Libby meets Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker) and they start a relationship. Ben begins to look up to Dan and sees him as a father figure. Libby and Dan marry and Ben is a page boy at their wedding. Libby also finds out she is pregnant and Ben is excited to have a younger brother or sister around. However, Libby loses the baby, which makes Ben sad. Ben starts to feel out of place in his family as he was the only one with a different surname. Libby allows Ben to change his name to Fitzgerald, but this causes friction between Libby and Stephanie Scully. Ben tells Steph that he will leave his name the way it is, but Steph realises that it is none of her business and Ben changes his name.
Dan becomes a good stepfather to Ben and he does all the fatherly things with him. Ben and Dan's relationship goes through a rough patch when Dan threatens to hit Ben for misbehaving. Susan agrees to carry Libby and Dan's child and she becomes pregnant. However, she miscarries the baby and Libby has to tell Ben that he would not be a big brother. Libby and Dan decide to separate, leaving Ben without a father figure again. This hurts Ben and he asks Libby and Steph why no one wants him. Steph reassures him that Drew never wanted to leave. Ben continues to have a good relationship with Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major). Lucas helps Ben out with school, takes him on his motorbike and helps coach the soccer team.