Mel Schilling dies aged 54 weeks after revealing terminal cancer

Mel Schilling, the Married at First Sight expert, has died at the age of 54 following a two-year battle with cancer, just weeks after revealing her diagnosis was terminal.

Her husband, Gareth Brisbane, confirmed she passed away on March 24, sharing an emotional tribute that highlighted her strength in her final moments.

“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,” he wrote. “Even then, her only thought was for us.”

Schilling publicly revealed on March 12 that her condition had become terminal after first being diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023.

She underwent surgery in early 2024 to remove a tumour described as “the size of a lemon” and was initially given the all-clear. However, doctors later discovered small nodules on her lungs, leading to further treatment.

Over the next two years, Schilling underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy. By December 2025, she was told there were no further treatment options available.

Despite her illness, she continued filming Married at First Sight, with her husband describing her as someone who “never complained” and remained committed to both her work and family.

“This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 and excelled at both,” Brisbane said. “She showed courage, grace and compassion every single day.”

Schilling appeared on Married at First Sight Australia from 2019 to 2025 and on the UK edition from 2021 to 2025, becoming one of the franchise’s most recognisable faces.

Tributes have poured in following her death, with co-star Charlene Douglas saying she was “heartbroken” and grateful for the time they spent together in her final days.

“Mel’s love for life, her humour and her energy will stay with me forever,” Douglas wrote. “What I wouldn’t give to be dancing with you again.”

Schilling is survived by her husband and their 10-year-old daughter, Madison.