Married At First Sight Australia gave a touching tribute to Mel Schilling who died in March 2026.(Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
While many fans of Married At First Sight Australia will be disappointed that another season for romance and drama has finished, quite a few were left in tears at the show’s emotional tribute to relationship coach Mel Schilling, who passed away in March.
Having been on the dating show since 2016, Mel also joined the UK version back in 2021. Being a fixture on TV screens for a decade, many fans were devastated to find out that the 54-year-old had passed away following a long battle with colon cancer.
Mel’s initial diagnosis was at first pushed aside as stomach cramps from stress and fatigue while she was filming in Australia. However, once she returned to the UK she was told she has cancer in 2023. Sadly the disease spread to her brain last Christmas, which gave the star only a few months left to live.
While many fans and co-stars wrote tributes to Mel when she passed away in March, who left behind her husband Gareth and 10-year-old daughter Maddie, MAFS Australia included its own show of love for the dating expert during its reunion finale on Thursday, May 14.
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Broadcast on E4, the end of the episode included a montage of pictures and clips from Mel’s decade on the show. However, the real tear jerker came as Mel’s voice could be heard as she offered contestants advice while music played in the background.
Many long-time viewers of the show were left in tears at the tribute as they went to social media to share their thoughts on the touching moment.
One fan wrote on X: “Absolutely beautiful memory of this beautiful lady. #MAFSAus and #MAFSUk will never be the same without her. The memory of her at the end of #MAFSAus 2026 was heartbreaking, my heart breaks for her husband but especially her daughter Maddy growing without her.”
Another person added: “That tribute at the end to Mel Schilling absolutely broke me… sat there with tears in my eyes. Such a strong, beautiful woman.”
With a third viewer adding: “God the farewell to Mel by #MAFSAU was so fitting. It broke me, she will truly be missed. What a beautiful, kind hearted lady. May God rest her soul.”
This was followed by a fourth person writing: “Mel’s montage was beautiful! She was such an amazing expert and the experiment definitely won’t be the same without her. Brought tears to my eyes. RIP Mel.”
Just a few weeks before her death, Mel took to social media to share the devastating news with her fans that her cancer has spread throughout her body, with doctors saying there was nothing else they could do for her, reports The Sun.
Sharing a picture of herself holding her husband and daughter, Mel urged others to look after themselves and seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.
She wrote: “If I could leave you with one thing, it would simply be this: if something doesn’t feel right, please get it checked out. It might just save your life. These two beside me are my everything.”
On March 24, her husband Gareth shared that Mel has passed away ‘peacefully’ and ‘surrounded by love’. In the heartbreaking message, he hoped people would honour his wife by living “life to the full”.
He added: “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.”
