Mel Schilling, the beloved dating coach and TV presenter, best known for her work on Married At First Sight, has passed away at the age of 59, her family have confirmed.
A moving post, shared by Mel’s husband, Gareth Brisbane, earlier today (24 March), read, “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. 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.
“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.
“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.
“On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.”
Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and was initially given the all-clear after a “tumour the size of a lemon” was successfully removed. However, in February 2024, small nodules were discovered in her lungs during a routine scan. She said, “The cancer had metastasised, and my world changed again in an instant.” In the past two years, she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while filming MAFS, in the hopes of taking part in a groundbreaking clinical trial.
On 12th March, Mel shared that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, saying, “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.”
Since the announcement of her passing, tributes to Mel Schilling have flooded in, with many celebrities and public figures sharing their memories of her humour, kindness, and grace, and offering condolences to her family and loved ones.