Married At First Sight’s Alessandra Rampolla says her ‘heart is shattered’ as she shares moving tribute to her ‘chica’ Mel Schilling following her death aged 54

Married At First Sight expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late co-star Mel Schilling, after she died on Tuesday following a long battle with colon cancer.

The MAFS sexologist, 51, shared a gallery of photos to social media on Wednesday which captured her and Mel having fun in happier times and captioned it with some heartbreaking words.

‘My beloved Mel, I am struggling to find the words, because none of them feel big enough for what I feel right now. My heart is shattered,’ Alessandra began.

‘I feel so incredibly grateful for the time we shared last week… to look you in the eyes, to hold your hand, and to say the things that truly mattered. That is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life.’

Alessandra then described exactly what Mel meant to her after five years of working together on the Channel Nine dating experiment. 

‘You were so much more than a colleague. You were a constant, a guiding force, and to me, someone I admired and learned from – like a big sister, a woman of immense heart, wisdom, and generosity,’ she said.

MAFS expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late co-star Mel Schilling, after she died on Tuesday following a long battle with colon cancer
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MAFS expert Alessandra Rampolla has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her late co-star Mel Schilling, after she died on Tuesday following a long battle with colon cancer

The MAFS sexologist shared a gallery of photos to social media on Wednesday which captured her and Mel having fun in happier times (Pictured with fellow series expert John Aiken)
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The MAFS sexologist shared a gallery of photos to social media on Wednesday which captured her and Mel having fun in happier times (Pictured with fellow series expert John Aiken)

‘You welcomed me from the very beginning, made me feel at home in a space that could have felt overwhelming. Always kind and generous with your light. That is who you were.’

She finished by saying she would forever cherish her memories of working with Mel on the show.

‘What we shared – on and off screen – was real. I will treasure it always. Thank you for your friendship, your laughter, your strength, and your unwavering belief in love,’ she concluded.

‘You will be deeply, deeply missed… but never forgotten, Chica. Holding Gareth, Maddie, and your beautiful family forever in my heart. With all my love, Alessandra.’

Several high-profile Australian stars and MAFS veterans took to the comments section to pay tribute to Mel.

‘So heartbreaking. I’m so sorry. Sending you love at this awful time,’ wrote Jasmine Stefanovic.

Meanwhile, former MAFS bride Lucinda Light shared a crying emoji, while fellow alum Eden Harper posted a love-heart emoji.

Mel died in London on Tuesday, ‘surrounded by love’, after saying her goodbyes to her close friends during a series of visits in her final week.

Alessandra then paid a beautiful tribute to Mel after five years of working together
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Alessandra then paid a beautiful tribute to Mel after five years of working together

She finished by saying she would forever cherish her memories
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She finished by saying she would forever cherish her memories

Mel Schilling died in London 'surrounded by love' (Pictured with husband Gareth and daughter Maddie)
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Mel Schilling died in London ‘surrounded by love’ (Pictured with husband Gareth and daughter Maddie)

‘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,’ Gareth wrote.

‘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.’

Mel helmed the expert panel of the Australian franchise for 12 seasons and also appeared in five series of the UK version on Channel 4.

But she had announced she would be stepping back from filming earlier this year, in order to prioritise her family and health.

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

Mel first revealed that she had been diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, and she had to have surgery to remove a 5cm tumour.

Mel has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology as well as a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.

She had been a practising psychologist for more than 20 years and began her career in 1998 as a Consulting Psychologist at Morgan and Banks.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, and received treatment including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed a series of MAFS UK; Pictured during treatment in December 2023
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The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert had split her time between the UK and her home in Australia after joining the British spin-off of the popular dating show in 2016.

She stepped down from the Australian show last year after 12 seasons, choosing to spend her final months at the London home she shared with her husband of eight years, Gareth, and their daughter Maddie, ten.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and received treatment, including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed a series of MAFS UK.

She announced that ‘after a tumour the size of a lemon’ was successfully removed in 2023 that she had been given the all clear.

But in a lengthy Instagram post last week, she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.

Mel’s Northern Irish husband Gareth confirmed the news of her death on Instagram on Tuesday in a statement in which he spoke about her final words to her daughter.

Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023, and received treatment including chemotherapy in the UK whilst she filmed a series of MAFS UK; Pictured during treatment in December 2023

In 2001, she took on a role as Senior Consulting Psychologist with Personnel Decisions International and went into consulting as a Consulting Psychologist for Extraversion Consulting.

Mel previously worked as an actress, gaining an unexpected credit in Neighbours before she was cast in MAFS and also starred in the procedural cop show, Blue Heelers, which ran from 1993 to 2006.

Last month Mel announced she was stepping away from the Australian series of MAFS after starring on the show since season two.

In a heartfelt statement, Mel revealed the decision came after careful consideration, citing ongoing health challenges and the strain of splitting her life between Australia and the UK.

‘After 12 extraordinary seasons, I have made the heartfelt decision to step away from my role as an expert on MAFS Australia,’ she said.

‘This hasn’t been a choice I’ve made lightly. In recent years, my health challenges and living in the UK spending up to three months a year away from my family is no longer sustainable.’

She continued: ‘It has become clear that I must make a change that puts my family, health and time at the very centre of my life.’