Lucinda Light Seeks Love Again As She Joins Celebs Go Dating Amid Mel Schilling Exit
Lucinda Light is stepping back into the dating spotlight while expanding her media work, and her name has been linked to a high-profile role change on the Married at First Sight franchise as the show’s longtime expert faces a serious health battle.
Lucinda Light’s Post-MAFS Media Career
Lucinda Light, who rose to prominence on series 11 of the Channel 4 dating show in 2024, has built a steady media presence since leaving the experiment. The 44-year-old has released books, toured, and booked television appearances, most recently turning up on an episode of Sunday Brunch on March 15. She remains protective of her private life and is currently in a relationship, even as she prepares for more public-facing projects.
Celebs Go Dating: Kisses, Dates and Her Search for a Match
Lucinda has signed up for the upcoming series of Celebs Go Dating, which is expected to air this summer. Speaking about the experience, she said she is “outrageously excited for this wild journey into dating these hunky UK men!” and that she is ready to try something different after dating in Australia.
Filming has already produced multiple encounters: Lucinda said she has had five dates and counted three quick kisses so far, clarifying they were “not tongues, not tonsil. Just cute little lippy kisses. ” She also noted there may be potential with the last person she saw, describing “embers with potential sparks” and expressing a desire to see him again.
Mel Schilling’s Illness and the Expert Replacement Question
The possibility of Lucinda stepping into a more prominent expert role comes as Mel Schilling, the long-serving dating coach on Married at First Sight, has confirmed her cancer has progressed. Schilling revealed she was diagnosed with bowel cancer more than two years ago and that the disease has since moved to her lungs and the left side of her brain. Her medical team has told her there is nothing further they can do, and she has said she does not know how long she has left.
Their departures have prompted conversation about who might fill the expert seat. For the remainder of the current UK series, John Aiken will act as the replacement expert while that series continues filming. Lucinda has addressed speculation about replacing Mel on the Australian edition but has broken her silence only to acknowledge the discussion rather than confirm any appointment.
As Lucinda Light continues to balance television work, live events and a renewed push into dating on-screen, the franchise adjusts behind the scenes in response to a significant and unexpected health crisis. Viewers can expect more public appearances from the former MAFS bride in the coming months as Celebs Go Dating unfolds and the series adapts its expert line-up.
