Mel Schilling, the Australian psychologist and relationship expert best known for her role on Married At First Sight Australia and Married At First Sight UK, has died aged 54 after a battle with cancer.
Her husband, Gareth Brisbane, announced her death in a statement shared on social media.
Brisbane wrote: "Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love."
He described her as "an incredible mum, role model and soulmate".
Brisbane said he had spent "15 wonderful years" with his late wife.
"To most of you, she was Mel Schilling, matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV," he wrote. "To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie."
He also thanked people around the world for their support, as well as Schilling's colleagues and friends, including members of the Married At First Sight team, Channel 4, production company CPL and her agent.
Schilling became a familiar face to reality TV viewers through her long-running role as a relationship expert on Married At First Sight Australia, before also joining the UK version of the programme.
She was known for her straight-talking advice and became one of the most recognisable figures linked to the franchise.
Earlier this month, Schilling revealed that her cancer had spread to her brain and said doctors had told her there was nothing further they could do.
She had first shared her colon cancer diagnosis in December 2023.
In his statement, Brisbane said Schilling had shown "courage, grace, compassion and empathy" throughout two years of chemotherapy, adding that she had continued filming during her treatment.
Following her terminal diagnosis, Channel 4 said Schilling was a "hugely valued and much-loved" member of the broadcaster's family.
Last week, Channel 4 also announced that Schilling had stepped back from filming, with fellow expert John Aiken due to cover her role on the next series.
Brisbane ended his message with the words: "Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again."
