Actor Madeleine West and chef Shannon Bennett have split after 13 years together

AFTER weeks of speculation actor Madeleine West has exclusively revealed how her relationship with high-profile chef Shannon Bennett — the father of her six children — has come to an end.

MADELEINE West has split from Shannon Bennett after 13 years together.

The actor has ended weeks of speculation about her relationship with the celebrity chef and confirmed they’ve officially separated.

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“We’re not currently together. We’re striving to reconnect as friends and parents, but who knows what the future holds,” West told Stellar exclusively.

“As a family, we will continue to split our time between Melbourne and Byron Bay.”

West’s comments follow the account given by her estranged partner just a week earlier.

Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West have split after 13 years. Picture: Instagram

Former Neighbours star and mother of six West also writes children’s books. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Bennett runs Melbourne’s Vue de Monde and several other restaurants. Picture: Tony Gough

At the time, Bennett gave the impression the couple was headed for a reconciliation and that West and their six children would be relocating from Melbourne to be with him in Byron Bay.

“There were all these rumours about us and, to be honest, I know we’re reconnecting and it’s great,” he said at the time. “The bottom line is Madeleine and I care about each other deeply and we’re not letting anything go at all.”

In another recent display of devotion, the 42-year-old chef had the names of West and their six children tattooed on to his chest backwards so that he could see them in the mirror every day. He debuted the new ink at the Sample Food Festival in the Byron Bay hinterland.

West said the pressure of balancing their careers and young family had put strain on the relationship.

The pair plan to split their time between Melbourne and Byron Bay.

High pressure public careers have taken a toll.

Bennett owns and runs several high-profile restaurants, including Vue de Monde, while West has just finished filming Channel 10’s new drama, Playing for Keeps.

“Having a public profile, having two high-pressure careers, having a multitude of children — and I will say they are a lot harder to train than dragons — it puts exponential pressure on a relationship,” she said.

“And cracks can form and things that we don’t necessarily plan in the beginning can happen.”

Get the full story in Stellar magazine.

West said public interest in the breakup had been difficult to navigate and they had both tried to shield their children from it.

“It’s hard when people ask questions,” she said.

“People will always be curious, no matter what you do. There will always be salacious rumours made up about you. That’s part of public life and you have to accept that.”

This week West also talks to Stellar about how her life changed for the better after being hit by a bus, the realities of motherhood and how Playing for Keeps is a game-changer for women on TV.

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