MARRIED At First Sight Australia viewers have been left in tears as the show aired an emotional tribute to Mel Schilling in the final episode.
The dating expert , aged 54, following a courageous battle with colon cancer, which eventually spread to her brain.
MAFS Australia shared a heartbreaking tribute for Mel Schilling at the end of the final episode
They shared a montage of pictures and clips from her time on the show
She appeared on the show for ten years and joined the UK version in 2021.
The third and final part of the reunion aired on on Thursday night and the producers made sure to include a tribute to the much-loved star, who left behind her husband Gareth and 10-year-old daughter Maddie.
At the end of the episode, they included a montage of pictures and clips from Mel’s time on the show.
As music played in the background, Mel’s voice could be heard as she offered contestants advice.
A variety of her best moments were shown on screen as a way to pay tribute to her.
Viewers were left in tears as they flocked to X to share their thoughts on the touching moment.
One viewer penned: “Absolutely beautiful memory of this beautiful lady. #MAFSAus and #MAFSUk will never be the same without her.
“The memory of her at the end of #MAFSAus 2026 was heartbreaking, my heart breaks for her husband but especially her daughter Maddy growing without her.”
Another fan commented: “God the farewell to Mel by #MAFSAU was soo fitting. It broke me, she will truly be missed.
“What a beautiful, kind hearted lady. May God rest her soul.”
Somebody else said: “That tribute at the end to Mel Schilling absolutely broke me… sat there with tears in my eyes. Such a strong, beautiful woman.”
Yet another expressed: “On the montage with Mel at the end, I’m in bits, she was so lovely.”
While a fifth added: “Mel’s montage was beautiful! She was such an amazing expert and the experiment definitely won’t be the same without her. Brought tears to my eyes. RIP Mel.”
Her husband Gareth announced the heartbreaking news of her death on March 24 in an emotional post.
Alongside touching pictures of Mel, he said: “Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.
“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.
Her husband announced her death in March Credit: Instagram
She was a much loved part of both the Australian and British versions of MAFS Credit: Getty
“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.”
The TV favourite was in 2023 and, at the time, told how she faced a “tough road ahead”.
She was was given the devastating news after suffering severe stomach cramps while filming the series of the romance show.
Weeks later she was told she had and underwent surgery to remove a 5cm tumour.
Just weeks before her death, she told her fans that to her brains and lungs and was told there was nothing left that could be done for her.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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