Married At First Sight fans expected drama during Monday night’s reunion, but they didn’t expect their hearts were going to break when all was said and done.
After this year’s batch of brides and grooms delivered their finals thoughts and the curtain dropped on season 13 of the ratings juggernaut, viewers at home were caught off guard by one last segment.
A moving tribute to beloved expert Mel Schilling, who passed away from cancer in March.
As a montage of memories played out on screen, viewers took to social media to share their collective grief.
‘I’m in tears, what a beautiful tribute. You will be so missed, Mel!’ wrote one fan.
‘Vale Mel Schilling. You were a proper woman,’ added another.
Married At First Sight fans expected drama during Monday night’s reunion, but they didn’t expect their hearts were going to break when all was said and done. (Pictured: Mel Schilling)
After this year’s batch of brides and grooms delivered their finals thoughts and the curtain dropped on season 13 of the ratings juggernaut, viewers at home were caught off guard by one last segment
Mel’s passing – so terribly sad,’ commented one more. ‘Strength to her loved ones’.
Meanwhile, another viewer was still coming to terms with her tragic death.
‘It’s been so surreal and sad watching the past few weeks knowing that Mel sadly passed,’ they wrote.
‘Missing her so much, her smile is enough to bring joy to the whole world,’ said another.
‘We hope you’re doing well up there beautiful Mel,’ they added.
‘What a beautiful ending, it won’t be the same,’ wrote one more.
Mel tragically died aged 54 just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain.
The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and she and her family had been living in London, where she was being treated.
As a montage of memories played out on screen, viewers took to social media to share their collective grief. ‘I’m in tears, what a beautiful tribute. You will be so missed, Mel!’ wrote one fan. (Pictured alongside Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken)
She announced that ‘after a tumour the size of a lemon’ was successfully removed she had been given the all-clear.
But in a lengthy Instagram post she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.
Mel’s Northern Irish husband Gareth Brisbane confirmed the news of her death in a beautiful statement in which he spoke about her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10.
He wrote: ‘Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.
Mel’s northern Irish husband Gareth Brisbane confirmed the news of her death in a beautiful statement in which he spoke about her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10
‘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.’
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