Following a battle with cancer, it was sadly announced yesterday (24 March) that Mel Schilling died.
The Australian reality TV icon ‘passed away peacefully, surrounded by love’, having continued to work until very recently.
Mel starred as a dating expert on the UK and Australia versions of Married at First Sight (MAFS), having started back in 2016. She was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago and had gone through chemotherapy while filming.
The 54-year-old shared earlier this month that her cancer had spread and there was ‘nothing further’ that doctors could do for her. And as one of her MAFS co-stars had flown to the UK to take over filming on the reality series for her, her friends and colleagues have shared moving tributes on social media.
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Elizabeth Day co-hosted the How to Date podcast with Mel and shared that she saw her in her final days.
“I’m so blessed that I got to see her the week before she died,” the journalist said on Instagram. “’My girl’, she said and we squeezed each other’s hands. Mel brought so much love to the world.”
Day described the TV icon as ‘strong’ and ‘amazing’ as she wrote: “I never understood the truth of the phrase ‘she lights up a room’ until I met Mel. There was an inner radiance to her; a spark; a dazzle. It wasn’t just the smile or the obvious beauty. It wasn’t just the sequins she loved or the glittery eyeshadow.
“It was deeper than that. It was the generosity that accompanied it.
“She wanted others to shine, to feel special and to be loved. To be in her company was to feel anything was possible.”
Mel’s fellow MAFS UK dating expert Charlene Douglas shared that she had ‘the pleasure of spending time’ with the star in her last days.
“And will forever treasure the laughter, the memories and love we had for each other,” she wrote.
“Mel’s love for life, jokes and of course dancing will forever stay in my heart.”
John Aiken, dating expert of the Aussie show, recently flew over to the UK to take Mel’s place during filming following her update earlier this month.
Having shared an emotional tribute through tears on Channel 9’s social media, he wrote on Facebook that he is ‘heartbroken, devastated and finding it hard to breathe’.
"So very, very kind"
“I had a front row seat to her remarkable skills and she truly believed in the experiment. At her core she loved love,” Aiken wrote.
“And behind the scenes we had so much fun. Before going on set we would sing, dance, face time her daughter and eat lollies. Every time I came to set she would squeal, jump out of her chair and run and embrace me - squeezing me tight.
“And through all of these years she was an amazing mother and wife. She was loving, committed, loyal, fun and so very very kind. And she always had as her driving force her family. She was a role model for all to see.
“And when her illness struck she never complained. She kept her challenges to herself and continued to deliver time and time again. She was an inspiration, a fighter, a leader.
“It’s not fair that my partner in crime is gone. She was one of the good ones. I am unravelling just thinking about it. I wanted to sit on our couch together forever. She knew my rhythms and I knew hers. But it’s simply not to be.”
Alessandra Rampolla, who also stars as an expert on the Aussie show, wrote that her heart ‘is shattered’, having also visited Mel in her final days.
“I feel so incredibly grateful for the time we shared last week… to look you in the eyes, to hold your hand, and to say the things that truly mattered. That is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” she shared on Instagram.
“You were so much more than a colleague. You were a constant, a guiding force, and to me, someone I admired and learned from — like a big sister, a woman of immense heart, wisdom, and generosity. You welcomed me from the very beginning and made me feel at home in a space that could have felt overwhelming, always kind and generous with your light. That is who you were.
“What we shared—on and off screen—was real, and I will treasure it always.”
"A guiding force"
And Paul Brunson, of MAFS UK, spoke of Mel’s ‘extraordinary strength’ while travelling and filming for the show during cancer treatment.
“Mel showed us what it means to live your values,” he wrote. “To choose people.
“To show up with strength, even when it’s hard. To stand for something. To never give up on yourself. And to love deeply.
“She was present. She was powerful. She was full of heart. She will be deeply loved. And profoundly missed.”
The announcement of Mel’s death
The Queen of MAFS’ husband, Gareth, shared the sad news of her death on Instagram yesterday.
"Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love,” he wrote.
"In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life. It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.
"This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.
"This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.
"To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.
"On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.
"I also want to thank our wonderful MAFS family — John, Alessandra, Charlene, Roxy, and Sophie — for your kindness and compassion.
"To Lee, Louie, Susy, and Ian at Channel 4 / CPL, who went above and beyond for us, we will never forget it. To Sarah at InterTalent, not just an agent, but a true confidante.
"And to the wonderful Elizabeth Day — Mel’s podcasting partner and dear friend — thank you for your friendship and empathy.
"Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one. If you can do anything to honour Mel, please live life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.
"I had 15 wonderful years with my soulmate, and it was the privilege of my life to be by her side. For that, I will be forever thankful. Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Married At First Sight, Cancer, TV and Film, Celebrity
Jess Battison