Married At First Sight star John Aiken’s agonising heartbreak as he loses two best friends and colleagues in the space of two years following the death of Mel Schilling

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Married At First Sight’s John Aiken is dealing with immense personal loss, having recently lost two dear friends and coworkers within the past two years.

Relationship expert, 55, is deeply saddened by the death of his friend and colleague, Mel Schilling, who passed away at 54 after fighting cancer with great strength.

Oh my god, I’m absolutely heartbroken! First, we lost the amazing Dr. Trisha, and now Mel? It’s the second devastating loss for John in such a short time. He was so close to both of them, a friend and colleague to both women. It’s just… too much. I can’t even imagine how he’s feeling right now. It’s like losing family, honestly. I’m just so sad for him.

Trisha passed away in September 2023 at age 72, three years after leaving the franchise. 

John announced the sad news of Trisha’s passing on social media, writing that he was heartbroken and devastated by the loss of his friend and coworker.

We had a wonderful seven seasons together on Married at First Sight. Tish had a passion for all things New Zealand, enjoyed following rugby and cricket, loved French wine, and had a real zest for travel. I’m going to miss her dearly.

‘Thank you for all the memories.’

A neuropsychotherapist from New Zealand became part of the Nine show when it began in 2015, appearing with relationship experts John and Sabina Read.

Sabina was later replaced by Mel Schilling. 

While on the show, Trisha became well-known for a segment where she tested for pheromones and for directly asking contestants if they had been physically intimate with one another.

Jessika Power, a contestant from season six of the show, revealed in a March 2021 podcast interview that Trisha was frequently sick during the filming of her last season in 2019.

‘She was really sick when we were filming,’ Jessika claimed.

Sometimes during filming, she needed to pause and rest, occasionally taking pain relievers like Panadol. She wasn’t feeling well and didn’t talk about it much.

As someone who’s followed the Married at First Sight journey closely, it’s incredibly sad to see the MAFS family mourning again. It feels like just yesterday we were all grieving Trish, and now, just two years later, we’re heartbroken to hear about the passing of Mel Schilling this week. It’s a tough time for everyone who enjoyed watching her on the show.

I’m absolutely heartbroken. Mel’s husband, Gareth, shared the news yesterday – she’s gone. It was so recent, just days after she bravely told everyone her cancer had spread to her brain. I can’t even begin to process it. She was such an inspiration, and I’m completely devastated.

In a lengthy statement, he spoke of her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10. 

Mel led the judging panel on the Australian version of the show for 12 seasons and also featured as a personality on five series of the UK show on Channel 4.

I was really sad to hear she was taking a break from filming, but honestly, I completely understand. She shared earlier this year that she needed to focus on her family and her own well-being, and that’s something I fully support. It’s so important to prioritize those things!

John stepped in to replace her for the remainder of the latest UK series, as filming was underway.

John appeared emotional on Wednesday’s Today show while discussing the death of Mel, explaining how deeply her loss had affected him, as she had been a close friend and trusted advisor for many years.

He said she was his close companion and helped him through everything as the show quickly became very popular.

I really relied on her, and things won’t be the same without her. It’s just difficult to accept that she’s gone.

John appeared visibly upset on Today after sharing a heartfelt post about Mel online.

John shared a photo showing the start and finish of their time together on TV, writing, ‘Where it began and where it ended.’

I’m deeply saddened to share that my dear friend and colleague, Mel Schilling, has passed away. I’m absolutely heartbroken and struggling to cope with this loss.

Ten years ago, she became a huge part of my life, and together we navigated a challenging journey, always supporting each other. We faced difficulties we never anticipated, but she was consistently by my side, a true companion through everything.

He shared that it was a true honor and pleasure to work alongside Mel, highlighting her kind nature, genuine honesty, and dedication to supporting the people on the show. He also noted that, fundamentally, she was a romantic and believed in love.

John shared a sweet story about their friendship, explaining how they’d spend time before filming singing, dancing, video chatting with her daughter, and enjoying treats. He also described how Mel would excitedly rush to greet him with a hug whenever he came to work.

He described her as a loving and dedicated mother and wife, highlighting her kindness, loyalty, and fun-loving spirit. He said her family was everything to her and that she served as a wonderful role model.

John spoke about her fight with cancer, noting she remained remarkably positive and dedicated to her work. He described her as ‘an inspiration, a fighter, and a leader,’ highlighting her strength and professionalism throughout the difficult time.

But it was the reality of her loss that hit hardest.

‘It’s not fair that my partner in crime is gone,’ he said. 

‘I am unravelling just thinking about it.’

In a last message, John expressed his gratitude to Mel for a decade of kindness, and shared that he’s deeply upset by her death as he begins to grieve.

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

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2026-03-25 02:19