MAFS finale ends with beautiful bittersweet tribute to Mel Schilling
Topics: Mel Schilling, Married At First Sight, Married At First Sight Australia, TV And Film
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Topics: Mel Schilling, Married At First Sight, Married At First Sight Australia, TV And Film
Married At First Sight fans have been sharing their emotional reactions, after the show paid tribute to one of their experts, Mel Schilling, who sadly died in March.
Schilling, 53, passed away following a cancer diagnosis, which after originally going into remission sadly came back despite 16 rounds of chemotherapy.
She had already finished filming her final season for the Australian version of Married At First Sight, which has only just aired for viewers in the UK.
As the credits rolled on the smash-hit Channel 4 show, a tribute aired to the TV icon, showing a series of her highlights.
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A voiceover from the expert was heard over the top, featuring some of the best advice she had given to couples over her years on the series.
Schilling was heard saying: "Yes this experiment is about finding love but there’s also another very important stream that runs through this experiment."
"It is about personal development. It is about finding your worth. It is about learning to find your voice and to start really believing that you deserve love.”
She was also heard talking about her beloved husband, Gareth Brisbane.
Schilling said: "He says I'm his soulmate. He says he can stop looking because he's found me."
She also shared her support to the many contestants who featured on the unconventional dating show, which sees couples get married without meeting first.
"Thank you so much for your time in this experiment. For your courage, your authenticity, we salute you and wish you all the best and all the happiness in the world."
Fans shared their heartbreak over the bittersweet tribute on social media.
"Beautiful tribute at the end for Mel RIP beautiful lady," wrote one.
Another couldn't contain their emotions, adding: "Absolutely sobbing at the tribute for Mel. It's not going to be the same not seeing her on our screens anymore. Sweet dreams beautiful lady."
A third agreed: "Watching tonight's MAFS knowing it's the last time we'll have the beautiful Mel Schilling on our screens was heart wrenching.. the tribute at the end had me sobbing. some people just radiate human sunshine, she was one of them life can be so incredibly unfair."
"Well that's a wrap one successful couple! And such a moving tribute at the end to Mel! RIP," added another.
Schilling had shared the news that she didn't have long left with a heartbreaking post alongside pictures of her husband and daughter.
"After many tests, I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do."
A family statement was then shared on March 24th, confirming the star had passed away.
"Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love. 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.
"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. This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.
"This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.
"To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.
"On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world."