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Mel Schilling, the renowned dating coach and television expert, has passed away at the age of 54 following a battle with colon cancer. Her family shared the news on Instagramsurrounded by love.” Her husband, Gareth Brisbane, paid tribute, writing: “This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 – and nailed both.”
Earlier this month, Schilling revealed that her cancer, first diagnosed in 2023, had become terminal, with doctors unable to offer further treatment. During her illness, she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, even while filming for Married at First Sight Australia. Reflecting on her condition, she wrote: “My light is starting to fade – and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love.”
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Schilling trained as a psychologist and initially worked in the corporate sector before focusing on dating and relationship coaching. Her career shift was inspired by her own experiences in love, including meeting her future husband, Gareth, on eHarmony in 2011. In 2013, she became the first Australian accredited by the International Dating Coaching Association and joined eHarmony Australia in 2014 as a Dating and Relationships Expert.
Schilling’s television breakthrough came when she joined Married at First Sight Australia as part of the expert panel, alongside Trisha Stratford (who died in 2023) and John Aiken. While coaching newlyweds on the show, Schilling’s personal life flourished, welcoming her daughter Maddie in 2015. She and Gareth married in an intimate Melbourne ceremony on Christmas Eve 2020. She later reflected on the moment as deeply emotional, having met her husband later in life and started her family in her early 40s.
Following the success of the Australian version of MAFS, Schilling also joined Married at First Sight UK, working with Paul Brunson and Charlene Douglas, which required her to split time between the UK and Australia with her family.
Throughout her career, Schilling was widely praised for her candid approach and willingness to hold participants accountable. On MAFS, she often confronted unacceptable behavior, including calling out groom Harrison Boone and offering guidance to bride Sarah in recent seasons.
Tributes have poured in from fellow celebrities and media personalities, including Alison Hammond, Elizabeth Day, Fearne Cotton, radio host Harriet Rose, and Love Island star Ekin Su, honoring her legacy as both a professional and a beloved figure in television.
