Married At First Sight’s Filip reveals the pivotal role Mel Schilling played in saving his relationship with Stella

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Married At First Sight’s Filip Gregov and Stella Mickunaite posted a heartfelt message remembering relationship expert Mel Schilling, who recently passed away. They shared how much she meant to them and their relationship, both during and after filming the show.

They expressed their extreme sadness over her death, saying they were heartbroken by the loss of the well-known relationship expert, who passed away in London at the age of 54 after a lengthy fight with cancer.

The couple spoke directly to Mel’s family as they struggled to process the loss.

Stella and Filip seemed like a very solid couple for most of the season, but problems started when Stella asked Filip to relocate from Melbourne to Sydney.

They also had significant personal conflicts regarding physical intimacy and birth control, which led to intense emotions during a key moment where they were supposed to commit to each other.

But according to Filip, it was Mel’s guidance on the couch that helped them navigate the pressure.

According to 9Entertainment, a participant shared that Mel Schilling played a key role in supporting Stella, advising her to concentrate on the emotional maturity she shared with Filip, something she hadn’t experienced in previous relationships.

That conversation on the couch was really helpful. It forced us to talk through some important things, and we were glad we did.

‘Other couples have been arguing about high school drama – we were worried about real-world stuff.’

Filip explained that the pressure to express love actually caused them to become more distant from each other, creating a pattern where they both pulled away emotionally.

He explained that she pulled away due to her fear of being left alone, and that her withdrawal then caused him to distance himself as well. He described it as a combination of factors happening at once, creating a difficult situation.

It had been six years since I last told someone I loved them. I just needed a little time to sort through my feelings.

Mel was secretly dealing with an illness while filming, even as her relationship problems became apparent months earlier.

I was so shocked to learn that one of my favorite stars from MAFS UK was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. She was incredibly brave, continuing to film the show while going through chemotherapy. Sadly, she later shared that the cancer had spread, first to her lungs and then to her brain. It’s just heartbreaking, but she remains such an inspiration with how she’s handling everything.

In a heartbreaking post earlier this year, she told fans there was ‘nothing further they can do’.

Mel’s husband, Gareth, shared the sad news on Tuesday that the dating expert had passed away shortly after disclosing her cancer had spread to her brain.

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

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

I was absolutely crushed when I heard she was taking a break from filming! It just seemed so sudden, but honestly, I totally get it. She said she needed to focus on her family and her health, and that’s all that matters. I just miss seeing her on screen, but I’m so glad she’s doing what she needs to do. It’s a small price to pay, honestly, if it means she’s happy and healthy!

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2026-03-26 04:33