Mel Schilling, best known as a relationship coach on the reality show Married At First Sight, has died. She was 54.
Schilling’s family confirmed her death this morning with a statement first published by the Press Association. Schilling was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, but recently said the cancer had spread.
The family’s statement said Schilling “passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.”
“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,” the family’s statement continued.
“On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world. Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one.”
The statement ended by calling on fans to honor Schilling by living “life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.”
Schilling was first cast on Married At First Sight in her home country, Australia. She later joined the UK version, which airs on E4. In a statement, Channel 4 said it was “privileged to be the channel that is home to Mel’s work, which was at the heart of Married At First Sight’s phenomenal success, both in the UK and Australia.”
The network’s statement continued: “We’d like to pay tribute to Mel as a person. 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. Everyone who knew her will miss all this about her and much more. We share in the sorrow that we’re sure many viewers will now feel at this terrible loss.”