The TV dating coach is remembered as "a radiant, shining light" following her death at the age of 54.
15 hours ago
Ian YoungsCulture reporter
Getty Images
Married at First Sight dating coach Mel Schilling has been remembered as "a truly magical woman" and "a radiant, shining light" following her death at the age of 54.
Schilling, who starred on the reality TV show in her home country Australia and the UK, died on Tuesday, two years after being diagnosed with cancer.
Fellow Mafs UK relationship expert Charlene Douglas said she spent time with Schilling in her final days and would "forever treasure the laughter, the memories and love we had for each other".
Australian co-star John Aiken said it was "not fair that my partner in crime is gone", adding: "She was one of the good ones. I am unravelling just thinking about it. I wanted to sit on our couch together forever."
Schilling's death was announced by her husband Gareth, who said she "passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love".
He wrote: "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."
He said she used "all of her remaining strength" in her final moments to whisper a message for daughter Maddie and him "that will sustain me for the rest of my life".
"Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me," he said.
"This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 - and nailed both," he wrote.
"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."
He added: "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."
Getty Images
In her tribute, Douglas said she was "both devastated and heartbroken to hear of the passing of my Mafs queen and friend Mel".
She wrote: "Mel's love for life, jokes and of course dancing will forever stay in my heart. What I wouldn't give to be dancing to Beyoncé with you right now.
"Sleep in perfect peace Mel. Love you."
Aiken echoed that, saying he was "heartbroken, devastated and finding it hard to breathe".
"It was a privilege and an honour to sit beside her on the Mafs couch and watch her shine," he wrote.
"She was warm, supportive and honest, and she deeply cared about all our participants. I had a front row seat to her remarkable skills and she truly believed in the experiment. At her core she loved love."
Getty Images
Others paying tribute included author Elizabeth Day, who hosted the How To Date podcast with Schilling. "What a woman. What a radiant, shining light," she wrote.
"How grateful I am to have known her. How grateful I am to you, Gaz, and to Maddie for being the loves of her life. I love you all so much.
"Thank you for the gift of your friendship. And thank you most of all to Mel. Our girl."
TV star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu said: "Absolutely heart broken… sending so much love to you and your family.. always remembered as beautiful strong, inside and out."
Presenter Alison Hammond posted: "Condolences to her family. A massive loss. RIP my friend."
Some of those who found love on the show thanked Schilling for making such an impact on their lives.
Tayah Aveling, who met husband Adam on the programme, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I don't think we would be together if it wasn't for her.
"She played such a massive part in putting us together, and I think she knew that we were going to be a couple that would go the distance. I think that they could really see that, and it's all credit to her."
Adam added: "There's probably a lot of people out there that credit her as well for being together. She's affected a lot of people's lives."
Mafs Australia's Michael Brunelli, who has just had a second baby with the wife he met on the show, said: "Rest in peace Mel. Thank you for everything you did for Martha and I. We'll talk about you when our kids ask how we met.
"You were so genuinely caring to us on the show and we'll always be grateful for it. Thank you for everything."
Getty Images
TV personality Jay Howard, who appeared on Mafs in 2023, wrote: "I have no words, our hearts are broken. Rest in peace Mel - thinking about your family at this difficult time. Sleep tight xxx"
Former Mafs bride April Banbury said it was "so heartbreaking", and Schilling "will always be remembered for the amazing strong woman she was".
Leigh Harris, who also appeared on the show, posted: "What a truly magical woman she was."
Ella Morgan, the first openly trans contestant on UK Mafs, said there were "not enough words to describe how brave, resilient, beautiful, inspiring and iconic you are".
"You have changed so many people's lives, inspired so many, taught so many, loved so many, and for that we are all grateful, but you are equally so loved and will be incredibly missed by millions."
Ashley Louise James from Made in Chelsea said Schilling was "such a beautiful, wise and joyful woman, inside and out".
"I feel really lucky to have met her, and I loved listening to her matriarchal warmth and wisdom on Mafs - a show that's always felt special to me, as I binge-watched it when my daughter was born."
When Schilling revealed her illness in 2023, she said she developed severe stomach cramps a few months beforehand and was initially told she had constipation.
But after a scan, she received her diagnosis of colon cancer, which is a form of bowel cancer.
On 12 March this year, Schilling said the cancer had spread and that doctors had told her "there is nothing further they can do".
"My light is starting to fade - and quickly," she wrote at the time.
After her original diagnosis, she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while still filming Married At First Sight.
Additional reporting by Alys Davies.
Chinese toymaker Pop Mart reported strong annual growth in revenue and net profit for 2025, but not enough to alleviate investor fears that the company remains too reliant on the Labubu phenomenon. Annual revenue jumped 184.7 per cent from a year earlier to 37.12 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion), while
As war in the Middle East escalates, the financial fallout extends beyond energy price and supply-chain disruptions. Vulnerabilities in the US$3 trillion-plus global private-credit market are accelerating, driving investors to safe havens, while global finance undergoes a rapid transformation. China
The woman had taken MDMA and three litres of vodka when she vandalised the piece nicknamed Blue Blob.
The war has caused "imminent danger" to the country's energy supplies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr says.