Married At First Sight's John Aiken has revealed that filming the new season without his longtime co-star Mel Schilling has been 'difficult at times', describing the experience as 'bittersweet' at the Logie Awards in Australia.
Schilling, a beloved dating coach, died in March at the age of 54 after doctors informed her that her cancer had spread to her brain. She was first diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023 and underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while filming MAFS.
Speaking to Nine.com.au on the red carpet on Sunday, Aiken said: 'It's a little bittersweet with Mel not being here now, it's sort of difficult at times. But, we are flying the Married At First Sight flag.'
Behind-the-scenes changes on the MAFS set
Fellow show veteran and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla agreed that the atmosphere behind the scenes had significantly altered, saying: 'Yes, it's very different this year, but we are really enjoying the process of creating something new also.'
The duo are currently filming the 2027 season of the show, after it was reported that MAFS Australia has cast a new relationship expert for the programme. The new love coach goes by Dr Lurve and has billed herself as Australia's number one relationship expert on her Instagram.
New expert Dr Lurve joins the panel
Dr Lurve, whose real name is Brigitte Zonta, is understood to have signed on for the show's 2027 season, according to the Daily Mail. Aiken also spoke at the Logies about the progress of the upcoming 14th series, revealing that the contestants are already being forced to confront their bad dating habits – but he didn't say anything about the reports of the new dating coach.
'It's early on in the experiment, so with that being the case, they're really being tested in terms of whether they're able to open up and let someone in, or whether they're just going to keep to their old patterns and basically rule people out,' he explained. 'That's always fascinating, to see who dives in.'
Schilling's legacy and the road ahead
Schilling helmed the expert panel of the Aussie franchise for 12 seasons and also appeared in five series of the UK version on Channel 4. Her death has left a void that the cast and crew are navigating as they continue production on the new season.
The 2027 season is set to premiere on Channel Nine, with Aiken and Rampolla joined by Dr Lurve as the new expert panel. Fans can expect the same blend of drama and relationship advice, but with a fresh dynamic that acknowledges the loss of Schilling while moving forward.
