Following the tragic news of Married at First Sight (MAFS) expert Mel Schilling’s passing, fans are calling for tonight’s episode to be cancelled and for a tribute to Mel’s beautiful life and the person she was.
At just 54 years old, just two weeks after she revealed her colon cancer had spread to her brain, her passing was confirmed in a heartbreaking Instagram post by her husband, Gareth Brisbane.
As the news broke, many MAFS fans took to social media, expressing their belief that tonight’s Dinner Party episode should be pulled from the schedule out of respect, with calls growing for a special tribute to celebrate Mel’s life and legacy instead.
“Out of respect for Mel, I hope that tonight’s episode of MAFS is cancelled and replaced with a tribute to Mel where they talk about her life and how she grew up and became a MAFS dating expert,” one person wrote.
“Do you think they will put a memorial on tonight?” One fan questioned. In response, another viewer said, “I expect so. John was on the Today Show this morning. He looked like a broken man. He spoke so beautifully about her.”
Other fans expressed that it wouldn’t feel right watching tonight’s episode without Mel. “I don’t know if I can watch Wednesday’s Dinner Party now. It will be too weird and sad with Mel sitting there just after the news of her death. I honestly need a break. I feel so bad for Mel and her family.”
“This season has already been hard to watch as it is. I honestly can’t picture myself watching it and having to watch Mel sit through all the drama,” another wrote.
“The show should not continue without her,” another wrote. “She wouldn’t want that, though,” another responded.
MAFS experts react to the tragic passing of Mel Schilling
Following the heartbreaking loss of Mel Schilling, her fellow MAFS experts have taken to social media to share emotional tributes, reflecting on her legacy, kindness and the friendships she built over the years.
MAFS expert and longtime friend John Aiken shared a deeply personal message honouring both their professional journey and their close bond.
“Where it began, and where it ended.”
“It is with great sadness and a 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,” he continued.
“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 of 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 and miss you, gorgeous. xx”
Meanwhile, MAFS UK expert Paul Brunson also paid tribute, sharing a touching memory that captured Mel’s warmth and authenticity.
“I’ll never forget my first BAFTA’s in 2022. I arrived on the red carpet with Mel and Charlene to represent MAFS UK. It was our first nomination, and I was nervous. 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,” he continued.
“She stepped off the red carpet, moved the barrier and went to hug the woman 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.”
Fellow MAFS expert and close friend Alessandra Rampolla also took to social media to express her grief, remembering Mel as a kind, generous and deeply loved presence both on and off screen.
“I am struggling to find the words because none of them is big enough for what I feel right now.”
“My heart is shattered,” she continued. “I feel so incredibly grateful for the time we shared last week… to look you in the eyes, to hold your hand, and to say the things that truly mattered. That is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
“What we shared on and off screen- was real and I will treasure it always. Thank you for your friendship, your laughter, your strength and your unwavering belief in love.”
Married at First Sight (MAFS) 2026 airs Sunday – Wednesday on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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