Mel Schilling, known to many as a relationship coach on the series Married at First Sight, has died at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer. This was weeks after she announced that her cancer had spread and was untreatable at that point. The television personality appeared on the show from 2016 till her death this year.
MAFS relationship coach Mel Schilling passes away at 54
Married at First Sight relationship coach Mel Schilling has passed away at the age of 54. She was best known for the Nine Network reality series, which she had been a part of since 2016. She worked for both the Australian and the UK versions of the show.
According to the statement by her family, she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones (via The Guardian).
A statement from her husband, Gareth, claimed, “Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love. 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.”
Her husband added, “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.”
Schilling previously revealed in March that she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. But it ultimately did not work out.
Many paid tribute to the relationships coach, including Fearne Cotton, Alison Hammond, radio presenter Harriet Rose, and Love Island star Ekin Su, among others. Married at First Sight also posted a lengthy tribute to the 53-year-old.
MAFS wrote on Instagram, “Mel was a wonderful colleague and friend. She had a gift for connecting with people and helping them navigate life’s challenges. For years, she guided us through the complexities of the human heart with wisdom, honesty, and kindness.”
Tributes continue to pour in for Mel Schilling.
