Who are Madeleine West’s six children she barely sees after toxic split with celebrity chef Shannon Bennett – as Neighbours star confirms she’s pregnant with baby number SEVEN
Madeleine West announced on Tuesday that she is pregnant with her seventh child in a shocking post—but who are her other six children?
The Neighbours star, 45, shares five daughters and one son with ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, who has previously claimed to be the primary caregiver of their kids.
Only seeing her children once a fortnight, Madeleine co-parents the brood while they live with Shannon, 49, at his Byron Bay mansion following their ‘toxic’ split.
Their eldest child is daughter Phoenix, 19, who the former couple welcomed in December 2005 just months after they started dating.
Madeleine and Shannon were in a serious relationship for 13 years following the birth of Phoenix, going on to welcome five more children, with one coming every two years.
The parents keep their children off their social media accounts as much as possible, but Shannon uploaded an image of Phoenix on her 18th birthday in 2023.
Madeleine West, 45, (pictured) announced on Tuesday that she is pregnant with her seventh child in a shocking post—but where are her other six children?
The proud father took his eldest out to their local pub to celebrate, captioning the picture of her with: ‘My daughter @phoenix.bennett is 18 today!’
‘All she wanted was a beer at the Eltham pub. Best pub in the Byron area!’ he added.
Madeleine and Shannon’s only son, Hendrix, 16, was born in April 2008.
The soap star has rarely been seen with her son, but Shannon shared a video to Instagram of him and Hendrix attending a Travis Scott concert in October.
Shannon made sure to keep Hendrix’s face out of the video, but included a photo of them at the beginning looking like they were having the time of their life.
He went on to welcome daughter Xascha, 14, in July 2010 with Madeleine, who he never married during their 13-year relationship.
They barely got their breath back before they gave birth to another daughter, Xanthe, 12, just two years later in 2012.
Neither of the middle girls have made an appearance on Shannon’s social media pages on recent years, though Madeleine featured one of them in 2023.
The Neighbours star shares Phoenix, 19, Hendrix, 16, Xascha, 14, Xanthe, 12, and twins Xalia and Margaux, 10 with ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, 49, who has previously claimed to be the primary caregiver of their kids. Pictured with part of their brood in 2019
The actress uploaded a photo of herself to Instagram, hugging one of her daughters whose face she covered with a large heart emoji.
‘My girl… You haven’t known a moment of life without me in it… And I can’t imagine a moment without you in my life,’ she wrote alongside the mirror selfie.
‘Every moment shared is more precious than the last, to be treasured until the next. I #love you til the end of time, bub, and then a little bit longer. Always my baby.’
Madeleine and Shannon’s final children came in November 2014 when they welcomed now 10-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux.
Their youngest children have featured the most on Madeleine’s Instagram, as she shared an image of them back in 2022, blurring their faces.
She also shared tributes to them on Mother’s Day in 2023 and 2024 when she shared pictures of them as babies and when she was pregnant with them.
Madeleine and Shannon split in 2018, two years after welcoming their twins together, with their separation turning bitter when Shannon claimed he takes care of their kids.
The award-winning restaurateur, known for his guest appearances on MasterChef Australia, said in 2022 that Madeleine only sees their children fortnightly.
Now Madeleine is set to welcome her seventh child with a mystery man
The Neighbours star revealed the exciting news in a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday morning
Madeleine, who was running for her local seat of Ballina as an independent in the 2023 NSW state election, appeared to respond to this admission.
Sharing a series of cryptic Instagram posts at the time, the former Neighbours star posted an image of herself with three of her children, one of whom was in her lap.
‘All I need is right here,’ she captioned the photo, and later re-posted an inspirational quote from a divorce content page.
‘Sometimes the universe tests you the most when you’re close to a new chapter,’ the quote read.
Madeleine then uploaded a famous quote from Michelle Obama about maintaining one’s dignity during times of conflict: ‘When they go low, we go high.’
Shannon claimed in an interview with The Herald Sun just days earlier that his six children live with him full-time at his multimillion-dollar property in Byron Bay.
‘The kids live with me full-time and they visit their mother every fortnight for a few days,’ he told the newspaper.
Shannon said that while his ex is not the children’s primary carer, the former couple work together to give them as much normality as possible.
As for her six other children, Shannon claimed in 2022 that he is their primary caregiver, with Madeleine seeing them once a fortnight following their ‘toxic’ split. Pictured together in 2016
‘At the end of the day, it’s about the children. I feel on this that my children’s lives are private and I’m the protector of that,’ he said.
‘I’ll do anything I can to ensure they get to grow as normally as possible with no distractions. I think I’m doing a good job of that; it’s good she’s doing that too.’
The chef, known for running Melbourne’s renowned Vue de monde restaurant, went on to say his children are ‘just normal kids’ living a ‘chilled’ life in Bryon Bay.
He said they spend their days riding their bicycles and playing cricket in the neighbourhood.
At the time, it was also revealed that taking over the primary care of his six children cost him his dream hotel redevelopment project.
‘Since relocating to Byron Bay with his six children after the breakdown of his relationship with their mother, his sole focus is the care and upbringing of his children,’ his management team said in 2022.
His team said the chef also divested his shares in Vue de monde, and ditched plans to turn a historic mansion near Melbourne into a luxury hotel.
Shannon took over the Burnham Beeches estate in the Dandenong Ranges—40km east of the city—in 2010, but later sold the property for $16.6 million to hotel giant Sorrento.
Shannon took their daughter Phoenix (pictured) out for her 18th birthday to their local pub in 2023 and shared a post about her to his Instagram at the time
‘Burnham Beeches became superfluous to this focus [of looking after his children],’ the statement given to The Herald Sun read.
‘Shannon has no current hospitality projects on the horizon. He wishes the new owners all the success.’
Madeleine has also spoken at length about her split from Shannon in a series of articles and podcasts for Mamamia, saying the separation process ‘turned love toxic’.
‘I woke one morning and no longer recognised myself in the mirror. I loved so much about my life, but somewhere I’d lost myself within it. It no longer fit me,’ she recalled of her decision to walk away.
Describing the process of separation as ‘painful’, Madeleine confessed in an article for Mamamia: ‘It tore apart my world, damaged the things I held dearest and turned love toxic.’
It comes after Madeleine announced she is pregnant with her seventh child.
The Neighbours star revealed the exciting news in a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday morning.
In the photo, the brunette displayed her growing baby bump in a tight-fitting grey tank top that was lifted to reveal her bare tummy.
He also took their son Hendrix (left) to a Travis Scott concert in October
‘WHOOPS!’ she captioned her post. ‘Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG!’
‘It’s not too much Christmas pudding either. And I couldn’t be happier.
‘Not too sure about the title “Geriatric mum” but here we are, and I’m winding back a little to grow this little surprise package I’ve dubbed #007. (Baby number 7, couldn’t help myself).
‘I don’t have much more to say right now, but I’ve noticed I don’t hear much about older parents. l know you must be out there. Just seems we are invisible.’
The actress sought advice from her followers as she prepares for her seventh journey into motherhood.
‘So if you’re expecting later than expected, and tackling early in your 40s or 50s, I’d LOVE hear your stories,’ she added.
‘I’d love any tips you care to share. Like how the heck do you get all the #baby paraphernalia together again after you’ve given it all away????
‘There’s a terrifying new world of contraptions out there and I don’t know where to start!! HELP!!!’
Meanwhile, Madeleine shared a tribute to one of her middle daughters back in 2023, saying her child had never ‘known a moment of life without me in it’
Madeleine’s huge announcement was met with well wishes from her fans, friends and followers.
‘Wow congratulations!!!’ one user commented.
‘Congrats to all ❤️, exciting times for your brood too,’ added another.
Someone else wrote: ‘Holy hell woman! You look fabulous, congratulations.’
The Australian star was most recently linked to Maximo Bottaro, who she dated for more than three years.
It is unclear if the pair are still together as they haven’t been seen or pictured together since December 2023.
In 2023, Madeleine said Maximo had been her biggest support when it comes to her mental health woes.
‘I’m lucky to have someone who is evolved and compassionate enough to go on this journey with me without sugar-coating or trying to avoid the tough moments,’ she told Stellar magazine.
Madeleine’s youngest twin girls are referenced the most on her Instagram. Pictured together in 2022
Madeleine shared a Mother’s Day tribute to her youngest daughters in 2023 and 2024. Pictured (L) pregnant with her twins and (R) holding them after their birth
Two years after her split from Shannon, Madeleine left Melbourne and moved to the Byron Bay area to be near their six children, buying her own $4.6 million property overlooking Tallow Beach.
Madeleine spent 2023 embroiled in court battles with Benny Bennett, Shannon’s elderly father, who took out an AVO against her after an alleged clash at the chef’s Byron mansion in 2022.
A magistrate enforced the AVO describing Madeleine as an ‘evasive’ and unreliable witness, and her alleged treatment of her ex father-in-law, 76, as ‘verging on being aggressive’.
But the decision was thrown out when Madeleine appealed to the NSW District Court and won in a ruling by Judge Jonathan Priestley who said ‘the evidence of facts supporting them is light on, and not supported by’ the footage from five different CCTV cameras around Shannon’s home.
In January 2023, Madeleine revealed she was sexually abused from the age of five to 10. Her abuser was finally named in December.
Peter Vincent White, 74, pleaded guilty to 33 charges of child sexual abuse against seven children, one of whom was the actress, who was then named Melanie Ann Weston.
