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Married At First Sight's John Aiken shares 'bittersweet' reality of filming after Mel Schilling's death

Married At First Sight relationship expert John Aiken has returned to film a new season of the dating show in Australia - which is the first to be filmed following the tragic death of co-star Mel Schilling

[Mel Schilling, Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken]

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Mel Schilling, Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken were co-stars on Married at First Sight(Image: NINE)

Married At First Sight star John Aiken has opened up about the "bittersweet" nature of resuming the show following the death of Mel Schilling. Fans of the controversial dating show in both the UK and Australia were saddened this year when Mel died at the age of 53.

The mum-of-one had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023 and, following treatment, was given the all clear. However, routine testing in 2024 uncovered the presence of nodules in her lungs, for which she underwent various rounds of chemotherapy.

In March this year, Mel revealed her lung cancer was terminal and had spread to her brain, and tragically, she died later that same month. She served as a dating expert on the Australian version of Married at First Sight from 2016 until her death - and the show is now filming its fourteenth season.

[John Aiken at the 2026 Logies]

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John discussed the upcoming new season while at the Logie Awards on Sunday(Image: Getty Images for TV WEEK)

[The late Married at First Sight star Mel Schilling]

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Mel was just 54 when she died in March this year(Image: INSTAGRAM)

Co-star John, 56, is back with the team, using his expertise to help the couples on the show navigate their emotions as they try to build their relationships. As it is the first season he has worked on since Mel's death, he admits that it has been a struggle at times.

Opening up to Nine.com.au at the Logies in Sydney on Sunday, he revealed: "It's a little bittersweet because, you know, with Mel not being here now, it's sort of difficult at times. But, you know, we are flying the Married At First Sight flag."

He was joined on the red carpet by fellow expert Alessandra Rampolla, 52, who agreed that the atmosphere on the show felt different. She said: "Yes, it's very different this year, but we are really enjoying the process of creating something new also."

[Alessandra Rampolla at the 2026 Logies]

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Alessandra agreed there was a changed atmosphere on the set of the hit dating show(Image: WireImage)

[Gareth Brisbane and Mel Schilling with their daughter, Maddie]

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Mel is survived by her husband, Gareth Brisbane, and daughter Maddie

As well as appearing on the show Down Under, Mel was an expert on the UK version of the series, which airs on E4, from 2021 until her last episode aired in 2025. She featured on the show alongside fellow experts Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas - who were left devastated by her death.

In a tribute to Mel earlier this year, Paul shared his astonishment at her ability to jet between the UK and Australia over the previous two years while simultaneously battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

In a touching social media post, he wrote: "Despite the travel, the treatment, the strain on her body... she showed up fully. Every single time. Always with a smile, I never once heard her complain. That wasn't just professionalism. That was extraordinary strength.

[Paul C Brunson, Charlene Douglas and Mel Schilling]

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Mel was also a star of the UK version of Married at First Sight alongside Paul C Brunson and Charlene Douglas(Image: Channel 4)

"Mel was tough. A straight talker. Strong in every sense. But when she spoke about her daughter Maddie... and her husband Gareth... everything softened." And he added: "She was present. She was powerful. She was full of heart. She will be deeply loved. And profoundly missed."

More recently, Married at First Sight has been pulled from the air in the UK after a Panorama investigation made allegations of serious crimes behind the scenes of the show. Two former brides made allegations they had been raped while involved in the making of the series, and another made an allegation of a non-consensual sex act.

Channel 4 removed Married at First Sight from streaming and linear services, alongside social media channels, while the Met police asked anyone with information to step forward with information relating to the allegations shared in the Panorama documentary, which aired in May. The future of the show is now unclear in the UK.

Channel 4s CEO Priya Dogra said in May, per Variety: There have been some reports [] that the show has been cancelled. These are wholly inaccurate. No decision has been made on the broadcast of [the next season of the show], and any decision we do take will be made only after the review has concluded.

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