Tributes for popular Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling are pouring in following the tragic news of her death at the age of 54.
English novelist and broadcaster Elizabeth Day has today re-released the episode of her podcast How To Fail that featured Schilling as a guest – the first time the pair met, in what would soon become a close friendship.
Day recorded a brief, emotional introduction to the reissued episode.
“This is an introduction I really hoped against hope I would never have to record ... even when Mel was dying of cancer, I still thought it would be completely illogical for her to actually die,” she said.
“Mel was the embodiment of vibrant life. Her smile and eyes could generate enough electricity to power the national grid. She was an extraordinary person, someone I’m so lucky to have got to call my friend.”
Day said she felt grateful to Mel’s family for allowing her to visit her just before she died.
“I will miss Mel so much but I will still feel her vibrance coursing through the atmosphere. I feel her urging me on and you on to find love and to believe yourself to be worthy of it,” she said.
Schilling’s husband, Gareth, shared a statement to the Australian dating coach’s Instagram account on Tuesday night, confirming that his “soulmate” had died.
“Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile and tomorrow is promised to no one,” he wrote, in part.
“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.”
Schilling’s death comes just a couple of weeks after she publicly shared that her “light is starting to fade – and quickly” after the discovery that her cancer had spread to her brain.
She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, but was initially given the all-clear after the removal of the tumour.
However, a scan in February the following year revealed that the cancer had metastasised and was present in her lungs.
John Aiken, who appeared alongside Schilling on MAFS for a decade, shared a lengthy post in honour of his “partner in crime” after the news broke of her death.
“It’s with great sadness and heavy heart that today I lost my dear friend and fellow MAFS expert Mel Schilling. I am heartbroken, devastated and finding it hard to breathe,” he wrote.
“She came into my life 10 years ago and together we rode this juggernaut, being there for one another through it all. Nothing could prepare us for what lay ahead, but she was always in the fox hole with me.
“It was a privilege and an honour to sit beside her on the MAFS couch and watch her shine. 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.
“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.”
Aiken concluded: “Dearest Mel – I want to thank you for everything you have given me over the past decade. I am distraught. Sadly and devastatingly I have to accept that you are now gone.
“The MAFS universe weeps, as does all your dearest family and friends. Particularly, all my love and prayers go to Gareth and Maddie – we have all been blessed to have known her. I love you and I miss you gorgeous.”
Friends, colleagues and MAFS stars and fans alike also expressed their grief in the comments section of the post announcing Schilling’s death, with Nine host David Campbell describing her as a “true angel”.
Fellow Nine presenter Natalia Cooper wrote: “This is the saddest news. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Meanwhile, Tristan Black, who appeared on season 11 of MAFS in 2024, opened up to the Daily Mail about the incredible support Schilling had given him during filming.
“It was always nerve-racking to come and sit on the couch, and talking about the issues you dealt with for the week. But Mel always made me feel at ease,” he said.
“She was kind, caring and compassionate. She always wanted to see the best in every single one of the people that were doing the experiment.
“Every time I sat on that couch and I looked at Mel, I knew everything was gonna be fine.
“She was an amazing human being, extremely knowledgeable. Heaven got a brand-new angel.
Season six MAFS star Michael Brunelli also paid tribute to Schilling, sharing a message on behalf of himself and fiancee Martha Kalifatidis.
“Rest in Peace Mel. Thank you for everything you did for Martha and I. We’ll talk all about you when our kids ask how we met,” he wrote.
“You were so genuinely caring to us on the show and we’ll always be grateful for it. Thank you for everything.”
The couple’s fellow season six star Cyrell Paule commented: “I am sorry. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful woman with the whole world. RIP Mel.”
Season 12 MAFS star Ryan Donnelly described Schilling as a “trailblazer”.
“Queen of kindness, wonderfully intelligent. Mel you made my MAFS journey sweeter, we will miss you.”
Jo McPharlin, who appeared on season five, branded the news “absolutely incredible heartbreaking”, calling Schilling “one in a million”.
Natalie Appleton, from hit British band All Saints, added that she was “absolutely devastated” by the news. “God bless you precious Mel. I’m sending so much love from all my family to yours.”
Life Uncut podcast host and MAFS: After The Dinner Party presenter Brittany Hockley added: “My heart breaks for you. What an incredible woman.”
Schilling’s close friend and How To Date co-host Elizabeth Day shared her own album of pictures of the pair together, alongside an emotional tribute.
“I never understood the truth of the phrase ‘she lights up a room’ until I met Mel,” she wrote. “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.
Day went on to explain that they’d met when Schilling appeared on her How To Fail podcast, and that they’d “immediately hit it off”.
“She was vibrant and funny but she was also deliciously savage in her humour when the situation warranted it.
“She found it hilarious that I had a crush on her fellow MAFS expert, Jon Aiken and would sometimes WhatsApp me unexpected photos of him in black tie from some promotional photoshoot they’d just done. ‘For your eyes only’ she’d text.”
Day went on: “Mel’s attitude was always ‘why not?’ Why not aim high? Why not dance till the early hours? Why not have another spicy margarita? Why not meet the love of her life online at 39 (this was something we both had in common)?”
The journalist and podcaster then shared sad details about the moment she was told her friend’s disease had come back.
“I didn’t really believe it when she told me her cancer had returned. Mel was so vividly ALIVE. It felt like a cosmic practical joke; the universe saying: ‘ha just kidding, I had you going there for a moment!’ I just knew that she’d be okay,” she wrote.
“Except that she wasn’t.
“She was told the cancer had come back the day before our launch party for How To Date, held with cruel irony on Valentine’s Day. She came to that party, swathed in fabulous gold sequins, looking stunning. We danced to House of Pain’s Jump Around. We jointly cut into a camp, pink wedding cake. She showed up. She always showed up.
“She told me over Christmas that the cancer had spread. I didn’t know how little time we’d have left. I’m so blessed that I got to see her the week before she died.
“‘My girl,’ she said and we squeezed each other’s hands. Mel brought so much love to the world. It makes me happy to think that she found love with the amazing Gareth and their incredible daughter Maddie. To watch that family go through the unimaginable has been a lesson in courage and grace. A lesson in love, most of all.”
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