Married at First Sight star Mel Schilling dies at 54

21 minutes agoIan YoungsCulture reporterGetty ImagesMel Schilling was diagnosed with bowel cancer more than two years agoMarried at First Sight dating coach Mel Schilling has died at the age of 54, her husband has said on Instagram, two weeks after she revealed her cancer had spread to her brain.Schilling, who had been a part of the cast of the reality TV show since 2016, revealed she was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023.She "passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love", a statement from husband Gareth said."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," he wrote.He said she used "all of her remaining strength" in her final moments to whisper a message for daughter Maddie and him "that will sustain me for the rest of my life"."Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me," he said."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."He added: "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."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."Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again."Schilling first joined Mafs in her home country of Australia and later on the UK version of the show, which airs on E4.In a statement, Channel 4 said: "All of us at Channel 4 are incredibly saddened by the news of Mel's death. Our thoughts and condolences are, first and foremost, with her family and loved ones."We're privileged to be the channel that is home to Mel's work, which was at the heart of Married at First Sight's phenomenal success, both in the UK and Australia. It reflected so much about her - her fierce advocacy for other women, her passion for healthy relationships and her mission to unite people in love."Just as importantly, we'd like to pay tribute to Mel as a person. For many who work for Channel 4, Mel was not just a colleague but a friend, someone who radiated joy, warmth and optimism, who energized every room she walked into, with humour and positivity."Everyone who knew her will miss all this about her and much more. We share in the sorrow that we're sure many viewers will now feel at this terrible loss."