Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling dies

Married At First Sight (MAFS) UK star Mel Schilling has lost her battle with cancer.

The reality TV star, who was the dating show's relationship coach, was 54 and died on Tuesday, according to a statement shared on her Instagram account.

When she passed away, she was "surrounded by love", her family said on Instagram.

The statement said: "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.

CPL Productions, who make Married at First Sight UK, said: "All at CPL were deeply saddened to hear of the death of our beloved friend and colleague, Mel Schilling.

"Over many years, many of us have been privileged to work with Mel on Married At First Sight, and her loss today will come as a tremendous sadness to all who knew her.

"Mel went far beyond being just a fantastic on-screen presenter; she was a friend to CPL, and to many of us who worked with her.

"We send our love and heartfelt condolences at this incredibly difficult time to Mel's family, friends, and all who were close to her. She will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched."

Channel 4 said she "radiated joy, warmth and optimism" and that it had been "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."

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Alison Hammond, who co-presents C4's The Great British Bake Off, said on the social media platform it was a "massive loss".

Jay Howard, who appeared on the show in 2023, described Schilling as a "truly incredible woman" and the news as "absolutely heartbreaking".

The Siddiqui family, from the channel's hit show, Gogglebox, posted that it was "just heartbreaking".

Earlier this month, Ms Schilling said on Instagram that her cancer had spread, including to the left side of her brain, and that there was "nothing further" doctors could do to treat it.

While filming for the show, she had 16 rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she said.

Schilling had previously announced she would be stepping back from the Australian version of the programme after 12 seasons on the expert panel.

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