Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling has died aged 54 “surrounded by love”, her family announced on Instagram on Tuesday (26 March).
The Australian dating coach and psychologist was best known for guiding couples on the shows Married At First Sight Australia and Married at First Sight UK.
Schilling announced earlier in March that her colon cancer, which was diagnosed in 2023, had become terminal with there being “nothing further” doctors could do.
The E4 star’s family have paid tribute to her on Instagram, confirming that she “passed away peacefully”.
“This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both,” her husband Gareth Brisbane wrote on Instagram.
Schilling is survived by her husband and their 10-year-old daughter Maddie.
Mel Schilling death updates: Married At First Sight star dies aged 54
- Mel Schilling's family pay emotional tribute
- Schilling's husband: 'It was the privilege of my life to be by her side'
- MAFS star's 'final moments' with family
- Mel Schilling's MAFS co-star 'distraught': 'I'm finding it hard to breathe'
- Tribute: 'Mel Schilling rewrote the script for single women and gave me some dating advice that I’ll never forget'
- 'Mel Schilling was fearless,' says 'MAFS' star Paul C Brunson
- Channel 4 say it was 'Mel's wish' to keep 'MAFS UK' going
Schilling's family life with husband Gareth and their 10-year-old daughter
12:18 , Lauren MorrisMel Schilling found love herself in 2011 after meeting Gareth Brisbane on dating website eHarmony.
They welcomed their daughter, Maddie, four years later before tying the knot in an intimate Melbourne ceremony on Christmas Eve in 2020.
“I was a late bloomer in life, like, I didn’t meet my husband until I was nearly 40 and then we had our daughter, Madison, six, when I was nearly 42, so to be finally saying our ‘I dos’ was an emotional time. It was very special,” she said of the nuptials.
The family were living in London with their dog before Schilling’s death.
Inside Mel Schilling's career – from psychologist to MAFS star
11:48 , Lauren MorrisBefore breaking into TV, Australian-born Mel Schilling trained as a psychologist before moving into the world of relationship counselling after meeting her husband Gareth Brisbane on eHarmony in 2011.
She went on to be accredited by the International Dating Coaching Association and landed a role at eHarmony Australia as the company’s Dating and Relationships Expert.
Schilling then landed a role on Married at First Sight Australia as a dating expert in 2016 before joining the expert panel on the UK version in 2021.
'MAFS UK' first trans star thanks Schilling for being 'an amazing ally'
11:18 , Lauren MorrisMarried at First Sight UK’s Ella Morgan – who became the show’s first transgender contributor to take part in 2023 – called Mel Schilling an “amazing ally” with “a wicked sense of humour and a smile that lit up any room”.
Taking to Instagram, she wrote: “There’s 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.”
She added: “Thank you for being an amazing ally to me and my queer community and always being so inclusive of everybody. That love really helped me through such dark times. Thank you for teaching me to just be me, and to ignore the hate and be fully authentic is everything I do.”
Channel 4 say it was 'Mel's wish' to keep 'MAFS UK' going
10:48 , Lauren MorrisE4 has revealed that they plan to keep MAFS: UK and MAFS Australia on the air – as it’s what Mel Schilling wanted before her death.
In a statement that was read out before the Australian edition of the show aired on E4 on Tuesday (24 March), the broadcaster said: “Everyone at Channel 4 is hugely saddened by the news we’ve lost Mel Schilling.
“It was Mel and her family’s wish that we carry on showing Married At First Sight and celebrate her mission to help others find love and happiness.
“Our thoughts are with Mel’s family and friends.”
Paul C Brunson recalls 'real moment' with Mel Schilling at the Baftas
10:03 , Lauren MorrisWriting his tribute to the MAFS UK, Brunson said that he would “never forget” his first Bafta TV Awards with Schilling in 2022.
“I arrived on the red carpet with Mel and Charlene [Douglas] to represent MAFS UK. It was our first nomination, and I was nervous,” he said.
“What stood out to me that night was how most celebrities handled it. They’d hear their name called, wave, and continue walking. But the first moment Mel heard her name, she stopped.
“She stepped off the red carpet, moved around the barrier, and went to hug the women calling out to her. Not a wave. Not a gesture. A real moment. The level of respect she showed her fans... that’s something I’ll never forget.”
'Mel Schilling was fearless,' says 'MAFS' star Paul C Brunson
09:08 , Lauren MorrisPaul C Brunson has paid tribute to his MAFS UK co-star Mel Schilling with a lengthy and emotional post on Instagram.
“Despite the travel, the treatment, the strain on her body...she showed up fully. Every single time. Always with a smile I never once heard her complain,” he said.
“That wasn’t just professionalism. That was extraordinary strength.”
He added that she was “fearless” when it came to defending women and the LGBTQ+ community on the show. “She didn’t dilute it. She didn’t make it comfortable,” he said. “She made it honest. And she stood firm in it every single time.”
Ending the post, he said: “She was present. She was powerful. She was full of heart. she will be deeply loved. And profoundly missed.”
MAFS fans pay tribute to 'class act' Mel Schilling
08:28 , Lauren MorrisMarried at First Sight UK fans are remembering Mel Schilling as a “ray of sunshine” after her death yesterday.
“Absolutely awful news. Mel Schilling faced everything with such grace and dignity. Thoughts are with her family. RIP,” one wrote on X.
Another tweeted: “She was such a light in this awful world. Hard to believe she's gone, what a woman.”
A third wrote: “She was a class act. A ray of sunshine to all #MAFS fans. May her Memory be a Blessing.”
Schilling told fans her cancer was terminal two weeks ago
06:00 , Ellie MuirAfter being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, Schilling told fans on 12 March that her cancer had become terminal.
“Over the past two years, while filming MAFS, I underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and was later told I was eligible for a groundbreaking clinical trial specific to my gene type, due to start in March 2026. Once again, my optimism soared that I might beat this thing,” she said.
“Over Christmas, however, I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side. After many tests I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do.
“Hearing those words changes everything. So that’s where I am now. My light is starting to fade – and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love. Simple tasks have become incredibly difficult and I am relying on my beautiful family to look after me.”
Schilling thanked fans for their support over the last two years, writing: “So many of you sent the most wonderful messages … They have meant more than I can ever properly express and have helped shape the mindset I’ve needed to keep fighting. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Production company behind 'MAFS' shares statement
05:00 , Ellie MuirCPL, which makes Married at First Sight UK, said in a statement: “Mel went far beyond being just a fantastic on-screen presenter; she was a friend to CPL, and to many of us who worked with her.”
“We send our love and heartfelt condolences at this incredibly difficult time to Mel’s family, friends, and all who were close to her. She will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched.”
Davina McCall says Schilling 'was the light'
03:00 , Ellie MuirTV presenter Davina McCall said Schilling was the “kind of woman that you could meet for 10 minutes and never forget for your whole life.”
She wrote in a statement: “That was Mel. Yesterday I met someone who tells his daughter every day to ‘be the light’... And that makes me think of Mel.”
“Mel was the light. Always bringing Joy, always bringing love, always smiling, always caring. She leaves a gigantic hole in the world…what a woman! And an amazing inspiration. We love you Mel, rest in peace.”
'MAFS UK' Nikita Jasmine pays tribute to 'courageous' dating expert
02:00 , Ellie MuirNikita Jasmine, who appeared on the sixth season of Married at First Sight UK in 2021, paid tribute to the “courageous” dating expert after her death.
“Dear sweet Mel… I have no words,” she wrote. “Never ever thought I’d be writing this but please rest in peace you brave, wonderful, courageous woman. thank you for always believing in me, having my back when others didn’t and understanding me when I was always misunderstood.”
“I will cherish every single memory I have with you forever — sending Gareth, Maddie & all the rest of your friends and family immense amount of love, light and strength. Fly high like the queen you are. always in our thoughts xxxxx,” she continued.
Schilling's 'MAFS' partner John Aiken pays tribute to his co-star
01:00 , Ellie MuirJohn Aiken has shared a tribute to his MAFS co-star Schilling, whom he worked with on the expert panel to guide couples on their relationships.
Aiken wrote online: “Where it began and where it ended.
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.
She came into my life 10 years ago and together we rode this @mafs 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 honor 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.
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 xx.”
'Self-compassion goes a long way': A look back at some of Schilling's best dating advice
00:00 , Ellie MuirThe Independent writer Olivia Petter has recalled the piece of dating advice that stuck with her after meeting Schilling.
“When I interviewed Mel, she gave me some great dating advice I think about often. ‘Self-compassion goes a long way,’ she told me. ‘Every dating disaster will tell you something important about what you do or don’t want in your next partner.’
Petter recalled being told: “Make sure the stories you are telling yourself about dating, relationships and partners are, if not positive, at least neutral. If they are negative or unhelpful, reframe them.”
Schilling was outspoken about women's health before her death
Tuesday 24 March 2026 23:00 , Ellie MuirSchilling was an advocate for women’s health and what is known as the “gender pain gap” in the months since her cancer diagnosis.
Speaking to Women’s Weekly Australia at the end of 2025, Schilling said that a doctor sent her home with a packet of laxatives when she expressed concern about her abdominal pain, which she later found out was a symptom of colon cancer.
“It was basically medical gaslighting, he completely minimised it,” Mel says.
Weeks later, she discovered that she was actually suffering from a complete bowel blockage, due to the existence of a tumour.
“I’ve been learning a lot about the gender pain gap. What I find interesting is that anything to do with our abdominal region, as women, is straight away considered to be something hormonal,” she told the publication.
“That you should just suck it up and get on with it, princess. When I made it clear it wasn’t anything to do with periods, that it was definitely a digestive issue, then he said it was constipation.”
'It was the privilege of my life to be by her side,' says Schilling's husband
Tuesday 24 March 2026 22:00 , Ellie MuirSchilling’s husband praised her strength after going through two years of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer, in a moving tribute.
“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 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 thanked her fans, “wonderful MAFS family”, Channel 4, her agent and her “podcasting partner” Elizabeth Day for their support. “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.”
Schilling's dating advice helped thousands
Tuesday 24 March 2026 20:00 , Ellie MuirIn an interview with The New York Times in 2025, Schilling offered some of her best advice, which she applied to her own relationship.
She said that one of the key lessons she learned from Married at First Sight was that “chemistry is not always instant.”
“I’ve seen time and time again,” she said. “There are examples where people can build chemistry.”
Schilling recommended keeping an open mind when you meet someone new.
“Stick by your convictions and put them out there,” she said.
Schilling's rise to fame
Tuesday 24 March 2026 19:30 , Ellie MuirBefore her pivot to a career in TV, Schilling was building her name as a respected psychologist.
She received her BA in Psychology from Deacon University in 1994 and worked as a consultant psychologist until she started specializing in dating advice in the 2010s.
Schilling became famous as a dating coach on Married at First Sight, the reality TV franchise in which single people marry complete strangers, and then navigate their marriage with the help of a panel of relationship experts.
Schilling appeared on the Australian version of the show in 2016 and also appeared on several seasons of the British version.
She was also a regular guest on British and Australian TV programs, often appearing on morning shows and radio to give dating advice.
Mel Schilling rewrote the script for single women and gave me some dating advice that I’ll never forget
Tuesday 24 March 2026 19:01 , Ellie MuirOlivia Petter recalls Schilling’s lasting impact on the entertainment industry, as well as how she was like a blast of sunshine for anyone who met her.
Mel Schilling was a rare gem and gave me some dating advice that I’ll never forget
Schilling's podcast co-host Elizabeth Day says dating expert 'lit up a room'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 18:30 , Ellie MuirElizabeth Day, who co-hosted the How To Date podcast with Schilling, wrote about the effect the dating expert had on her.
“I never understood the truth of the phrase 'she lights up a room' until I met Mel,” Day 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.”
“Like many of you, I fell in love with Mel on Married At First Sight. Her insights on the couch were always brilliantly delivered, with insight and compassion. But when someone needed calling to account, she did it. She was strong. And yet her strength has an elegance to it.”
“The recipients of Mel's arched eyebrow would always deserve it. They would be the bullies, the misogynists, the narcissists. And she did it so well! A victim would often have no idea their nastiness had been filleted from them like bones from a Dover sole by a particularly expert waiter.”
'MAFS UK' star Ella Morgan says Schilling had an 'infectious soul'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 18:01 , Ellie MuirElla Morgan, who took part in MAFS UK in 2023 as the first transgender bride, remembered Schilling as “brave, resilient, beautiful, inspiring and iconic.”
She wrote: “You 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.”
“You had a heart so big and full of kindness, a wicked sense of humour and a smile that lit up any room.”
Former 'MAFS' contestants share fond memories of working with dating expert
Tuesday 24 March 2026 17:32 , Ellie MuirMAFS star Davide Anica, who appeared on the tenth UK series of the show, shared a photo of Schilling on Instagram captioned: “Rest in peace angel you will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Mel's family.”
April Banbury, who took part in the 2022 series, wrote: “So heartbreaking. sending so much love and many prayers to you all during this time. Mel will always be remembered for the amazing strong woman she was. Rest in peace Mel.”
'Schilling was a fighter til the end,' says E4 star
Tuesday 24 March 2026 16:40 , Lauren MorrisCelebs Go Dating star Anna Williamson has opened up about her friendship with Mel Schilling in light of the MAFS expert’s death.
Taking to Instagram, Williamson wrote: “What a woman. A fighter til the end, an end that was far far too soon.
“All of our Channel 4 family are grieving the loss of Mel. She touched a lot of people on and off screen. As her E4 ‘stable mate’ and with a love of coaching others and juggling being telly mums we naturally gravitated towards each other, held a deep respect for each other and became friends.”
She added that Schilling was “always optimistic in spirit” and “a fiercely proud wife and mama”. She continued: “Many people were touched by Mel and benefited from her badass approach to life, her work and her family and I know that legacy will continue.”
'MAFS UK' star Charlene Douglas 'devastated' by Mel Schilling death
Tuesday 24 March 2026 16:14 , Lauren MorrisMarried at First Sight UK star Charlene Douglas says she will “forever treasure the laughter” she shared with Mel Schilling as she pays tribute to the relationship expert.
Sex and relationships therapist Douglas appeared on the MAFS UK panel alongside Schilling and fellow expert Paul C Brunson since 2021.
Sharing a post on Instagram, Douglas wrote: “I’m both devastated and heartbroken to hear of the passing of my MAFS queen and friend Mel.
“I had the pleasure of spending time with Mel in her last days and will forever treasure the laughter, the memories and love we had for each other.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.”
Colon cancer symptoms to look out for after Mel Schilling's death
Tuesday 24 March 2026 15:44 , Lauren MorrisThe MAFS UK star was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, having revealed that initial symptoms were brushed off by doctors. With the TV personality having urged fans to get themselves checked out “if something doesn’t feel right” before her death, you should look out for bowel changes, blood in your stool, pain or lumps in your stomach, weight loss and unexplained tiredness.
You can read more about the symptoms of colon cancer here.
Mel Schilling's MAFS co-star 'distraught': 'I'm finding it hard to breathe'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 15:04 , Lauren MorrisMel Schilling’s MAFS Australia co-star John Aiken has shared an emotional tribute to the relationship expert, saying that he’s “distraught” over her loss.
“I am heartbroken, devastated and finding it hard to breathe,” he wrote on Instagram. “She came into my life 10 years ago and together we rode this @mafs 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’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.”
He ended the tribute by thanking Schilling for the last decade, adding: “I love you and I miss you gorgeous.”
Inside Mel Schilling's three-year cancer struggle
Tuesday 24 March 2026 14:45 , Lauren MorrisThe MAFS star was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, revealing that she was “doubled over in pain” while filming Married at First Sight Australia – but mistook the symptom for jet lag.
After being diagnosed, Schilling underwent surgery to have a tumour removed before being treated with chemotherapy. While she was given the “all clear” shortly afterwards, doctors found “small nodules” in her lungs in February 2024 – with the cancer metastasising.
“Over the past two years, while filming MAFS, I underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and was later told I was eligible for a groundbreaking clinical trial specific to my gene type, due to start in March 2026,” she wrote on Instagram.
Earlier this month, she confirmed that the cancer had spread to the left side of her brain and that despite undergoing radiotherapy, there was “nothing further” doctors could do.
Alison Hammond, Fearne Cotton and Vicky Pattison pay tribute to Mel Schilling
Tuesday 24 March 2026 14:20 , Lauren MorrisA number of British TV stars have paid tribute to Mel Schilling online, with This Morning’s Alison Hammond writing: “Condolences to her family . A massive loss . RIP my friend.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Vicky Pattison commented on the tribute posted by Schilling’s husband: “Absolutely heartbreaking. A beautiful woman inside and out... my thoughts are with your family and friends.”
TV presenter Carol Vorderman added: “So very sorry for your immense loss. The world is a sadder place today.”
While All Saints singer Natalie Appleton commented: “I am absolutely devastated to hear this news. God bless your precious Mel. I’m sending so much love from all my family to yours.”
MAFS' Australian broadcaster 'deeply saddened' by Schilling's death
Tuesday 24 March 2026 14:00 , Lauren MorrisAustralian channel Nine, which airs the country’s version of MAFS, has issued a statement on Mel Schilling’s death.
“All of us at Nine are deeply saddened by the loss of Mel Schilling,” Executive Director – Entertainment, Streaming & Broadcasting, Michael Healy, wrote.
“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.
“Mel was a big part of our family, and she will be greatly missed. Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with her husband Gareth, their daughter Maddie and her entire family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Mel Schilling urged fans to get symptoms 'checked out' in final post before death
Tuesday 24 March 2026 13:35 , Lauren MorrisThe MAFS star told her fans that her cancer had spread to the left side of her brain and become terminal just weeks before her death, urging them: “If something doesn’t feel right, please get it checked out. It might just save your life.”
Sharing her final post to Instagram on 12 March, Schilling wrote: “Despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do.
“Hearing those words changes everything. So that’s where I am now. My light is starting to fade — and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love.”
'This Morning' pay tribute to Schilling on air: 'It's devastating'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 13:10 , Lauren MorrisITV’s This Morning halted its broadcast to pay tribute to Schilling – with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley describing her as a “colourful” and “gorgeous” person.
“It's time for our phone in now, but we've just had some really devastating news about someone who has sat alongside us and taken many of your phone calls over the years,” they said.
“Mel Schilling, who you'll know from Married at First Sight, sadly passed away earlier today at the age of 54, following a battle with cancer.”
They went on to describe her as “gorgeous” and “colourful”. they added: “We're sending all of our love to Mel's family, from everyone here at This Morning.”
MAFS stars 'heartbroken' as they pay tribute to 'inspiration' Schilling
Tuesday 24 March 2026 12:51 , Lauren MorrisThe stars of Married at First Sight UK have flooded Schilling’s post with tributes.
“Heartbroken reading this,” 2023 contestant Rozz Darlington wrote. “Sending all my love to you all.”
Her co-star Laura Vaughan added that Schilling was “an inspiration” and a “beacon of light to all” she knew. “I feel so privileged to have met you, worked with you and experienced firsthand the kindness you gave in abundance. It embodied you. This world is a lonelier place without you in it,” she added.
April Banbury, who took part in the 2022 series, wrote: “So heartbreaking. sending so much love and many prayers to you all during this time. Mel will always be remembered for the amazing strong woman she was. Rest in peace Mel.”
Elizabeth Day praises 'radiant' podcast co-host Schilling
Tuesday 24 March 2026 12:33 , Lauren MorrisWriter and podcast host Elizabeth Day praised her colleague Schilling as a “radiant, shining light” in an emotional tribute.
The duo presented the How To Date podcast together last year.
“What a woman. What a radiant, shining light. How grateful I am to have known her,” she wrote in the comments of Schilling’s husband Gareth Brisbane’s Instagram post.
“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.”
She posted a series of photos with Schilling to her own Instagram, writing: “My girl,” with a heart emoji. “Sending all my love to Gaz, Maddie and Mel’s entire family.”
'Schilling radiated joy, warmth and optimism,' says Channel 4
Tuesday 24 March 2026 12:17 , Lauren MorrisChannel 4 has paid tribute to the late MAFS UK star, with a spokesperson saying that the broadcaster was “privileged” to have her.
“All of us at Channel 4 are incredibly saddened by the news of Mel’s death,” they said. “Our thoughts and condolences are, first and foremost, with her family and loved ones.”
They added that Schilling’s work on both the Australian and British version of MAFS “reflected so much about her – her fierce advocacy for other women, her passion for healthy relationships and her mission to unite people in love”.
They added: “For many who work for Channel 4, Mel was not just a colleague but a friend, someone who radiated joy, warmth and optimism, who energized every room she walked into, with humour and positivity.“
Schilling's husband urges fans to 'honour Mel' by 'living life'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 12:02 , Lauren Morris“Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel,” Schilling’s husband Gareth Brisbane wrote in his Instagram tribute.
“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.”
He concluded: “Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again.”
Schilling's husband: 'It was the privilege of my life to be by her side'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 11:59 , Lauren MorrisSchilling’s husband continued with his emotional tribute, praising her strength after going through two years of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer.
“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 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 thanked her fans, “wonderful MAFS family”, Channel 4, her agent and her “podcasting partner” Elizabeth Day for their support. “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.”
MAFS star's 'final moments' with family
Tuesday 24 March 2026 11:50 , Lauren MorrisSchilling’s husband Gareth Brisbane spoke about their last conversation before her death, writing on Instagram: “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.”
Mel Schilling's family pay emotional tribute: 'An incredible mum, role model and soulmate'
Tuesday 24 March 2026 11:45 , Lauren MorrisNow, the E4 star’s family have paid tribute to her on Instagram, confirming that she “passed away peacefully” on Tuesday (24 March).
“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,” her husband Gareth Brisbane wrote on her page.
“It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me. This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.”
