Channel Nine’s tribute to Mel Schilling, the cherished relationship expert from “Married At First Sight,” was led by John Aiken following her untimely passing at the age of 54.

In a poignant segment that aired before Wednesday’s episode, Aiken fought back tears as he delivered heartfelt remarks about his beloved co-star and close friend.

“With great sadness and a heavy heart, today the MAFS family mourns the loss of a colleague and dear friend, Mel Schilling,” Aiken expressed with palpable emotion.

He reminisced fondly, saying, “Mel was someone who could light up any room. Her joy was infectious, her smile was radiant, and her presence on set always uplifted everyone around her.”

Aiken continued, “She brought an abundance of fun, joy, and humor, and her genuine nature was something we all cherished. It was always a delight to be in her company.”

“Mel was a true leader and an inspiration to us all. She never complained and always faced challenges head-on with determination,” he added, emphasizing her remarkable spirit.

John Aiken (pictured) has led Channel Nine’s tribute to Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling after her death at age 54

In a heartbreaking segment before Wednesday’s episode, Aiken fought tears as he shared moving words about his co-star and best mate. Pictured: Mel Schilling in the tribute 

‘Someone that has meant so much to all of us, and it’s not fair. 

‘Married At First Sight won’t be the same without her. 

‘I would like to send all thoughts and prayers to Gareth, her husband, and Maddie, her wonderful daughter, and to also take a moment now and remember Mel. 

‘We love you.’

Channel Nine then aired a solemn message dedicating the following episode to Mel’s memory. 

‘With gratitude for her warmth, honesty and insight. A beloved member of our team, she’ll always be part of the Married At First Sight family,’ the notice read. 

Aiken, 55, broke down on the Today show earlier on Wednesday as he spoke for the first time about Mel’s death, revealing the devastating toll of losing his ‘partner in crime’.

‘I’m not going to lie, this has been a very, very difficult day for me and basically everyone in the MAFS family and her nearest and dearest. It’s tragic, and it happened very quickly,’ a visibly shattered John said.

‘She was someone that could light up a room, she was full of joy, had a huge smile, and whenever she was on set, everyone lifted,’ Aiken said 

‘Someone that has meant so much to all of us, and it’s not fair,’ he said 

John revealed he had the chance to see Mel and her husband Gareth one last time before her death – a moment he described as both ‘very emotional’ and ‘very special’.

‘It was a very aggressive cancer, unfortunately,’ he said, fighting back tears. 

‘One of the things I loved about Mel was that she was such a fighter… she never complained. Whether she was on set or off set, she was a breath of fresh air, a real shining light.’ 

Reflecting on her legacy, John described Mel as a ‘real role model’ and ‘voice of reason,’ revealing he felt ‘very privileged’ to have worked alongside her for a decade.

‘She was my partner in crime through all of this,’ he said, referring to their time navigating the show’s meteoric rise.

‘I couldn’t have done it without her… it won’t be the same now. It’s very hard for me to get my head around her not being there.’

He also spoke of her deep belief in the show’s mission and the couples who took part.

‘She loved love. She was completely committed to the participants. She wanted everyone to get the fairy tale,’ he said.

Mel’s husband Gareth announced on Tuesday that the dating expert had died just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain

Mel’s husband Gareth announced on Tuesday that the dating expert had died just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain. 

In a lengthy statement, he spoke of her love for him and their daughter Madison, 10. 

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. 

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