Married At First Sight star John Aitken shares emotional tribute to ‘graceful and kind’ Mel Schilling after she revealed her cancer is terminal: ‘She isn’t just a colleague, she is family’

by

Married At First Sight‘s John Aitken publicly honored his friend Mel Schilling on Wednesday with a touching message, after she revealed she has terminal cancer. He described her as ‘graceful and kind’.

Last week, the 54-year-old dating expert shared heartbreaking news: after being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, the disease had spread to her brain, and doctors have determined there are no further treatment options.

Before the newest episode of Married at First Sight Australia aired in the UK, John shared a message of support for Mel, her husband Gareth, and their daughter Madison.

John is in the UK to fill in for Mel while filming the British version of Married at First Sight. He’s been touched by the outpouring of support for Mel from both fans and cast members.

In December 2023, Mel shared that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery to remove a 5cm tumor.

She recently shared in a long Instagram post that her cancer, originally diagnosed earlier, had spread to her lungs in 2024. Over the Christmas holiday, she learned it had unfortunately spread again, this time to her brain.

John shared with viewers that since Mel revealed her news, fans of Married at First Sight around the globe have united in a really heartwarming way.

The amazing show of love and support from around the world proves how much we all appreciate her.

I’ve come to the UK to help out with Married At First Sight, but right now, my thoughts are with our wonderful colleague and friend as she takes the time she needs to focus on her well-being.

We’ve always admired Mel’s grace and kindness, but her openness and honesty lately have really shown us why so many people care about her.

Mel is more than a coworker to us—she’s family. We’re sending all our love and support to Mel, Gareth, and Maddie during this time. We love you, Mel.

John has appeared alongside Mel as experts on MAFS Australia since its second series in 2016.

Last week, Channel 4 announced that he will be taking over filming for the new season of Married at First Sight UK with Mel’s support, as she had to leave the show to focus on her fight against cancer.

Following the news about Mel’s health, a Channel 4 spokesperson shared a statement on Instagram expressing the network’s deep sadness and sending love and support to Mel and her family.

After appearing in five seasons of Married at First Sight UK and twelve seasons of the Australian version, Mel has become a cherished member of the Channel 4 team. Many of us consider her a friend and coworker.

She’s known for her wisdom, warmth, humor, and kindness, which is why everyone connected to Married at First Sight – the crew, the participants, and the viewers – feels as much affection and respect for her as we do.

Mel is well-known for being the relationship expert on the commitment ceremony couch, helping countless couples navigate dramatic dinner parties, emotional conversations, and highly publicized splits.

The actress shared that she received a colon cancer diagnosis in December 2023 and underwent surgery to remove a 5-centimeter tumor.

Mel recently shared that her cancer, originally diagnosed earlier, had spread to her lungs in 2024. Sadly, over the Christmas period, doctors discovered it had also spread to her brain.

She shared a deeply moving message, saying she doesn’t know how much time she has left, but she’s determined to keep fighting with everything she has, and she feels loved and supported by those around her.

Mel shared that over the last two years, she’s completed 16 rounds of chemotherapy all while filming Married at First Sight.

She was scheduled to begin a new medical trial in March, but starting over the Christmas holiday, she developed severe headaches and lost feeling on her right side.

Tests revealed the cancer has spread to her brain, and doctors have determined there are no more treatment options available. She shared that she is rapidly losing strength, writing, ‘My light is starting to fade – and quickly.’

Mel shared a photo with her husband, Gareth, and their 10-year-old daughter, Madison, along with a statement explaining that she was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023. A lemon-sized tumor was found during a scan, and doctors were able to remove it successfully. Initially, she received a clean bill of health, as many people already know.

In late February 2024, a routine scan revealed small nodules in my lungs. Sadly, the cancer had spread, and my life was instantly altered once more.

During the past two years of filming Married At First Sight, I went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy. Then I received some hopeful news: I qualified for a new clinical trial tailored to my specific genetic makeup, scheduled to begin in March 2026. This gave me renewed hope that I could overcome my illness.

‘Over Christmas, however, I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side.

Following numerous tests, I learned the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain. Even with radiation treatment, my doctors have now said there are no more options available. Hearing that news has completely changed my outlook.

That’s my current situation. My strength is diminishing rapidly, but I’m still here, still battling, and deeply loved by amazing people.

Everyday things are now really challenging, and I’m grateful for my wonderful family who are taking care of me. I don’t know how much time I have left, but I’m determined to keep fighting for as long as I can, with the love and support of my family around me.

I was so touched by all the incredibly kind messages you sent at the beginning of this challenge. Your support has meant the world to me and has given me the strength to keep going. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If there’s one piece of advice I could give, it’s this: trust your instincts. If you notice something unusual or concerning about your health, please see a doctor – it could be life-saving.

‘These two beside me are my everything. With love and gratitude, Mell’.

I was absolutely devastated to hear the news. Mel has truly impacted so many of us, not just through raising awareness, but also with her amazing advice on Married at First Sight. To me, and I know to countless others, she is the heart of that show, and always will be.

I, like many others, feel incredibly fortunate to know and work with Mel. Sending my heartfelt love to Mel, her family, and all who have the pleasure of knowing her, both as a friend and colleague.

As someone who follows the Married at First Sight Australia family closely, I was so saddened to hear the news. It’s just heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to Mel and everyone who loved her. She was truly a beautiful soul, and it’s just not fair. Sending all my love.

Last month, Mel announced she was leaving the Australian version of Married at First Sight after being a part of the show since its second season.

Mel announced her decision with sadness, explaining that she had thought it over carefully. She shared that continuing health issues and the difficulty of balancing life between Australia and the UK led to her choice.

After twelve amazing seasons, I’ve decided to leave my position as an expert on Married At First Sight Australia. It was a difficult decision, but I feel it’s the right time for me to move on.

I didn’t make this decision easily. With ongoing health issues and needing to spend significant time – up to three months each year – away from my family while living in the UK, my current situation simply isn’t workable anymore.

She explained that she needs to prioritize her family, health, and personal time, and is making changes to ensure those things are central to her life.

Read More

2026-03-19 00:50