Our rare gem Mel rewrote the script for single women

You meet a lot of people in my line of work.

- OLIVIA PETTER

Rarely do those people leave such a lasting impression that you tell your friends and family about them. But with Mel Schilling, I couldn’t help myself. She was like sunshine. And if you were lucky enough to feel her light on you, you wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Yesterday, the Married at First Sight dating coach died aged 54 after being diagnosed with cancer in December 2023. Her husband, Gareth, announced the tragic news on Instagram, writing that she had “passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love”. He added: “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.”

I’ve long been aware of Schilling’s lasting impact on Married at First Sight, which is where she built up her fierce fanbase by delivering honest, heartfelt, and empowering dating advice. But I first met her last year after she teamed up with her friend Elizabeth Day to launch an eight-week podcast series, How to Date, and I interviewed them both.