Exclusive: Filip reveals expert Mel Schilling was key to saving his and Stella's marriage from 'break-up' on MAFS 2026
EXCLUSIVE: MAFS' Stella and Filip shocked everyone as they worried they could be headed for a "break-up" if they didn't resolve their contraception and relocation issues.
Speaking to nine.com.au, Filip revealed that expert Mel Schilling was key to getting them back on track.
Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here
Stella and Filip aired their concerns on the MAFS couch. Nine
For months now, Stella and Filip's relationship has been trouble-free, that was until Sunday night's episode when Stella revealed their relationship would only work if Filip moved interstate from Melbourne to her home in Sydney.
Things also got tense when the golden couple shared their intimate life had taken a hit because they had different views on contraception. At one point Stella even suggested Filip get a vasectomy.
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"Mel Schilling was instrumental in helping Stella through it and told her 'hey, focus on the emotional maturity you have with Filip that you've never had in the past'," Filip told nine.com.au.
"We really listened on that couch session and we were better for it because we had to have a chat about all that stuff."
"Other couples have been arguing about highschool drama, we were worried about real-world stuff."
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Filip admitted the pressure to say 'I love you' put stress on his marriage with Stella.
"She withdrew because she has abandonment issues and then when she started withdrawing, I started withdrawing. It was just this perfect storm.
"I hadn't said 'I love you' to someone in six years so and she pulled back so I just needed some time to figure out what was going on."
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Stella and Filip had Mel Schilling to thank for saving their relationship. While this bump in their relationship happened months ago during filming, expert Mel has since shared a heartbreaking update on her cancer.
In March 2026, Mel shared that her cancer has spread to her brain and her oncology team have told her there is "nothing further they can do".
Mel shared her devastating news alongside a picture with her husband Gareth and daughter Maddie. Instagram @mel_schilling1
"My light is starting to fade – and quickly. But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love," Schilling, 54, shared in a heart-wrenching post.
"I honestly don't know how long I have left, but I do know I will fight to my last breath and will be surrounded by the love and support of my people."
Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here. Episodes stream weekly, immediately following the explosive Married at First Sight Dinner Party episode on Channel 9 and 9Now.
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