Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling has died aged 54 after a battle with colon cancer that spread to her lungs and brain. Her husband Gareth Brisbane announced her death, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and friends.
John Aiken, who worked alongside Schilling on MAFS, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, describing himself as “heartbroken” and “devastated”. He wrote: “It’s not fair that my partner in crime is gone. She was one of the good ones.” Aiken recalled their time together on set, saying Schilling was “warm, supportive and honest” and that she “deeply cared about all our participants”.
This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepard paid tribute live on air, with Shepard noting that Schilling “spent her final moments surrounded by love” and used her final strength to give a message to her husband and daughter. Deeley described her as “gorgeous”.
Writer Elizabeth Day, who co-hosted the How To Date podcast with Schilling, called her a “radiant, shining light”. Former model Lisa Snowdon and All Saints singer Natalie Appleton also expressed their condolences, with Appleton saying she was “absolutely devastated”.
Schilling worked on both the UK and Australian versions of MAFS. She is survived by her husband Gareth and their daughter Maddie.
