{"id":5403,"date":"2026-03-24T15:31:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/?p=5403"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:31:30","slug":"mafs-expert-mel-schilling-dies-age-54-as-devastated-husband-pays-tribute-to-soulmate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/?p=5403","title":{"rendered":"MAFS expert Mel Schilling dies age 54 as devastated husband pays tribute to &#8216;soulmate&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>MAFS expert Mel Schilling dies age 54 as devastated husband pays tribute to &#8216;soulmate&#8217;<\/h1>\n<p class=\"publish_date\">24 March 2026, 11:58<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.heart.co.uk\/images\/801666?crop=16_9&amp;width=660&amp;relax=1&amp;format=webp&amp;signature=HZWCX950_Xnoem7RrpKhhJCqrJk=\" alt=\"The dating coach was known for her work on MAFS UK and MAFS Australia.\" data-image-catalogue-id=\"801666\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"standfirst\">Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling&#8217;s husband Gareth paid tribute to the &#8216;incredible mum, role model and soulmate&#8217; in an emotional Instagram post.<\/p>\n<div class=\"remixd-audio-player-wrapper\">\n<div id=\"remixd-audio-player\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.co.uk\/showbiz\/tv-movies\/married-at-first-sight\/\"><em>Married At First Sight<\/em><\/a> expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.co.uk\/showbiz\/celebrities\/married-at-first-sight-mel-schilling-age-husband-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mel Schilling<\/a> has tragically died at the age of 54 following a gruelling battle with colon cancer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">The TV dating coach, best know for starring in <em>MAFS UK <\/em>and <em>MAFS Australia<\/em>, was diagnosed with the devastating disease back in 2023 but recently revealed it had &#8216;spread to her brain&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">Her husband Gareth Brisbane announced the sad news earlier today with an emotional post on Instagram, which paid tribute to the &#8216;incredible mum, role model and soulmate&#8217;.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/app.af.globalplayer.com\/Br0x\/HeartLive\"><strong>Listen to Heart on Global Player, the official Heart app<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">Next to a string of heartfelt snaps featuring Mel with the couple&#8217;s 10-year-old daughter Maddie, he told fans of her last moments and begged them to &#8216;live life to the full&#8217; in her honour.<\/p>\n<div class=\"openweb-container\" data-openweb-ad=\"\" data-row=\"1\" data-column=\"1\"><\/div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.heart.co.uk\/images\/801660?crop=16_9&amp;width=660&amp;relax=1&amp;format=webp&amp;signature=HiI3fPnknSR6uqe5YME5l5JC70A=\" alt=\"The MAFS expert has passed away at the age of 54.\" data-image-catalogue-id=\"801660\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">Gareth wrote: &#8220;Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.co.uk\/showbiz\/celebrities\/mel-schilling-cancer-surgery-chemotherapy-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mel Schilling cancer journey: Inside MAFS expert&#8217;s health battle<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"data-instgrm-captioned\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWQ85B0iDFQ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 \u2014 and nailed both,&#8221; he gushed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"dac__article-mpu\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;To most of you, she was Mel Schilling \u2014 matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.heart.co.uk\/images\/801657?crop=16_9&amp;width=660&amp;relax=1&amp;format=webp&amp;signature=sxNGbvpnlaYw0xdEoQPsYHyqkhc=\" alt=\"Mel sadly leaves behind husband Gareth and daughter Maddie.\" data-image-catalogue-id=\"801657\" \/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">The dad-of-one continued: &#8220;On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;I also want to thank our wonderful MAFS family \u2014 John, Alessandra, Charlene, Roxy, and Sophie \u2014 for your kindness and compassion.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.co.uk\/showbiz\/celebrities\/married-at-first-sight-mel-schilling-age-husband-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Married At First Sight Mel Schilling: Age, husband and children revealed<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"data-instgrm-captioned\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DIJS2pWtvck\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;To Lee, Louie, Susy, and Ian at Channel 4 \/ CPL, who went above and beyond for us, we will never forget it,&#8221; added Gareth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;To Sarah at InterTalent, not just an agent, but a true confidante. And to the wonderful Elizabeth Day \u2014 Mel\u2019s podcasting partner and dear friend \u2014 thank you for your friendship and empathy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one. If you can do anything to honour Mel, please live life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.&#8221;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.co.uk\/showbiz\/tv-movies\/married-at-first-sight\/mel-schilling-cancer-diagnosis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>MAFS expert Mel Schilling reveals terminal cancer diagnosis: &#8220;I don\u2019t know how long I have left&#8221;<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"data-instgrm-captioned\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVyy3haCPJj\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">He ended the heartbreaking post by writing: &#8220;I had 15 wonderful years with my soulmate, and it was the privilege of my life to be by her side. For that, I will be forever thankful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-text\">&#8220;Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MAFS expert Mel Schilling dies age 54 as devastated husband pays tribute to &#8216;soulmate&#8217; 24 March 2026, 11:58 Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling&#8217;s husband Gareth paid tribute to &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5403"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5405,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5403\/revisions\/5405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heightshowtime.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}