Expert Mel Schilling issued the lengthy statement on social media following a “heartfelt decision”.

The 53-year-old TV star has been a part of the Australian version of the show since series 2 in 2016, replacing Sabina Read.

The show features a group of strangers taking part in an experiment, being paired together by experts.

Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling leaves show

Despite leaving the Australian version of the show, she will remain a part of Married at First Sight in the UK.

The UK version originally aired in 2015 on Channel 4, before moving to its sister channel E4 in 2021, the same channel that airs the Australian counterpart.

The full statement from Ms Schilling on Instagram reads: “After 12 extraordinary seasons, I have made the heartfelt decision to step away from my role as an expert on Married at First Sight Australia.

“This hasn’t been a choice I’ve made lightly. In recent years, my health challenges and living in the UK, spending up to three months a year away from my family is no longer sustainable.

“It has become clear that I must make a change that puts my family, health and time at the very centre of my life.

“What began as a small social experiment has grown into a global phenomenon, and I have felt truly privileged to be part of that journey.

“I am incredibly grateful to the fans, the production team, and my fellow experts for their trust and passion over the years.

“I am leaving not with sadness, but with a deep sense of gratitude for everything we’ve achieved together.

“Stepping away from the Australian series is the right move for my future, though I look forward to continuing my work with Married at First Sight UK. Thank you for being part of this chapter with me.”

Married at First Sight stars send wishes to Mel Schilling

Fellow MAFS stars have wished Mel well after announcing she was leaving the show.

Australian expert John Aiken, who has been a part of the show since series 1, said: “Such a privilege to sit beside you, Mel, for a decade. Onwards, my friend, to new beginnings. Big love.”

MAFS Australia 2025 star Jeff Gobbels wrote: “Thanks for everything @mel_schilling1, you’re one of one. Good luck with everything in the future!”

Recommended reading:

Cam Merchant, who appeared on MAFS Australia in 2019, added: “Be so proud Mel. Beautiful journey.

“Thank you for being ultimately you with the most incredible, heartfelt & postive intentions in all that you.

“Been such a privilege & your next chapter will continue to be special.”

Will you miss Mel Schilling on MAFS Australia? Let us know in the comments.

LONDON (AP) — Fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files has landed on the gilded wood and plush red benches of Britain’s House of Lords.

Parliament’s upper chamber is in the spotlight after former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson was forced to resign as a member of the Lords because of his friendship with the late sex offender.

The episode has emboldened critics who say the unelected house is antiquated, undemocratic and far too slow at punishing bad behavior by its members. Supporters say the chamber of more than 850 members-for-life who sport the titles of “Lord” or “Lady” is an unwieldy but essential part of parliamentary democracy.

Almost everyone agrees it needs reform, but that task has eluded successive governments.

“It’s a mess,” said Jenny Jones, one of two Green Party members of the Lords. “In spite of our being supposedly a modern democracy, we have a semi-feudal system.”

Relic of the past

For most of its 700-year history, the House of Lords was composed of noblemen — not women — who inherited their seats, alongside a smattering of bishops. In the 1950s, these were joined by “life peers” — retired politicians, civic leaders and other notables appointed by the government, among them the first female members of the Lords.

In 1999, the Labour government of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair evicted most of the more than 750 hereditary peers, though to avoid an aristocrats’ rebellion, 92 were allowed to remain temporarily.

A quarter century on, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s current Labour government finally introduced legislation to oust the remaining “hereditaries,” calling them an indefensible relic of the past.

The lords have put up a fight, forcing a compromise that will see some hereditary members allowed to stay by being “recycled” into life peers.

“Hereditary peers actually work harder than average peers,” said Charles Hay, the 16th Earl of Kinnoull, who leads the group of cross-bench, or non-party affiliated, peers in the Lords. “It means that you chuck out a lot of people who are actually being effective.”

Most agree that the House of Lords plays an important role in reviewing legislation passed by the elected House of Commons. The lords can amend bills and send them back to lawmakers for another look. But when push comes to shove, the upper house is supposed to give way to the will of the elected chamber.

Critics say the upper chamber has sometimes overstepped the mark by blocking legislation, as with a current bill to legalize assisted dying. It was approved by the Commons but has become bogged down with hundreds of amendments in the Lords.

Lords-a-misbehaving

Long gone are the days when out-of-favor lords could be imprisoned in the Tower of London or beheaded for treason.

Until recently there was little parliamentary authorities could do about peers who commit ethical breaches or crimes.

Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, otherwise known as the thriller-writer Jeffrey Archer, was imprisoned for perjury in 2001, while Lord Black of Crossharbour — the media baron Conrad Black — served a U.S. prison sentence after a 2007 fraud conviction. Under the rules of the time, neither could be kicked out of the Lords.

Since then, the law has been changed to allow members to be expelled for breaching the Lords code of conduct, imprisonment or non-attendance. To this day, no one has been expelled for bad behavior, though a couple have quit before being kicked out, including one who committed sexual assault and another filmed allegedly snorting cocaine with sex workers.

Ex-peers get to keep their lordly titles and the cachet they bring. Mandelson — who in one message asked Epstein: “Need a Lord on the board?” — has lost his job and faces a police investigation for misconduct in public office. But he remains Lord Mandelson.

Also under pressure is Starmer’s former chief of staff Matthew Doyle, now Lord Doyle, appointed to the House of Lords despite his friendship with a man later jailed for possessing indecent images of children.

Removing disgraced lords’ titles would require new legislation, something that has not been done since 1917, when several lords were stripped of their titles for siding with Germany in World War I.

Slow pace of change

Labour remains committed to eventually replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber that is “more representative of the U.K.”

But change is slow. In December, the Lords set up a committee to look at introducing a retirement age of 80 and tightening up the participation requirement.

“Lords reform is glacial,” said Meg Russell, a politics professor who heads the Constitution Unit at University College London. “Things are talked about for decades before they happen.”

The fall of Mandelson, who was appointed to the Lords in 2008 by a previous Labour government, has renewed concern about the quality of members and the way they are selected. Anger among Labour lawmakers about Mandelson escalated into a crisis for Starmer that could yet end his leadership.

Russell says the Mandelson and Doyle controversies show the need to change the way Lords members are chosen. While crossbenchers are appointed by an independent committee, most life peerages are handed out by the prime minister, often to reward aides, allies and donors.

“There’s really no proper quality check and there’s no limit on numbers and it just looks so anachronistic,” she said. “It’s clear that there ought to be more rigorous processes to check people on the way in.”

The Green Party that Jones represents wants to go further and abolish the Lords, replacing it with an elected upper house.

“We should call it the Senate or something and stop this ridiculous class-based nomenclature,” said Jones, whose formal title is Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb. “I’d be happy to be called senator and not lady.”

The £231,000 works started on Monday

A major road in Belfast will be closed every day for almost a month due to a major carriageway resurfacing scheme.

The £231,000 works on the Newtownbreda Road started on Monday, February 16, and the works extend for around 0.63km from the junction of Purdysburn Road to the Tesco Roundabout.

To facilitate the scheme, the Department for Infrastructure said it is necessary to implement daily road closures Newtownbreda Road, between Purdysburn Road and the Tesco Roundabout, during the hours of 8am and 6pm from Monday, February 16, until mid-March 2026.

READ MORE: ‘Our roads are in a dire condition’ admits Infrastructure MinisterREAD MORE: Northern Ireland roads record 49,000 defects in last three months alone

During this time a diversion will operate vis Purdysburn Road, Hospital Road, Belvoir Road, Newtownbreda Road and vice versa.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “This is a substantial investment for the Lisburn and Castlereagh area which will deliver significant benefits for residents and road users and demonstrates my commitment to improving our road network, which is vital for connecting our businesses and communities. I would like to thank residents, local businesses and commuters for their patience while this essential infrastructure work is carried out.”

The Department for Infrastructure said they have programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience, however, while steps have been taken to accommodate local access, road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions.

Subject to favourable weather conditions, the works will be substantially complete by Friday 6 March 2026, however, the Department will keep the public informed of any change.

For more information about this and other improvement schemes visit: http://www.TrafficwatchNI.com.

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There’s countless scenic spots across the nation all offering stunning views, history, a connection to nature and much more – five freebies have been praised by one adventure-loving hiker

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A series of walks have been praised for their beauty as well as the fact they’re free to visit. The UK is littered with breathtaking scenery, from expansive and historic parks, to vast and imposing mountains, wild moorlands, glacial lakes and impressive waterfalls, rugged cliffs, and more.

Nature lovers and walking enthusiasts are spoiled for choice, with countless scenic walks on offer across the nation. If you’re craving views, towering trees, or a connection to nature; there’s no shortage of options.

Five freebies have been lauded on TikTok by adventure-focused content creator Tom Harborne, who shared a video highlighting these winter walks which cost “0” but offer “10 out of 10 views”.

The footage showcases each of the destinations and, in the caption, Tom included the postcode to help people find them with ease.

Hafren Forest, SY18 6PT

Kicking off his list, Tom named Hafren Forest. This expansive space can be found north-west of Llanidloes, an ancient market town in mid-Wales.

The forest was named after Afon Hafren, which is the Welsh name for the River Severn. In the caption accompanying the video, Tom penned: “A calm corner of mid Wales where rivers slice through towering pine and waterfalls echo through the valley.

“When frost hits the trails it looks like someone turned the whole forest into a movie set.”

Aberglaslyn Pass, LL45 4YG

The Aberglaslyn Pass is a stunning narrow gorge in Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Tom said: “A dramatic Welsh valley with turquoise water mist curling through steep mountain walls and slate tunnels that feel like portals to another world.

“Winter makes this place wild in the best possible way.”

Slaters Bridge, LA22 9NY

Tom branded this spot “one of the Lake District’s most photogenic bridges”. This traditional packhorse bridge is found in Little Langdale in the English Lake District.

The bridge became a listed building in 1967 but the bridge itself dates back to the 17th century.

Tom added: “Moss covered stone stretching across still winter water surrounded by golden fells. Tiny walk, huge reward.”

Hafod Estate, SY25 6DX

The Hafod Estate is a phenomenally popular landscaped estate in Ystwyth valley in Ceredigion, Wales.

The National Trust states: “Hafod is one the finest examples of a ‘picturesque style’ landscape from the 18th century. Discover waymarked trails, wildlife and nature within the rugged landscape of mid-Wales.”

Tom explained: “An 18th century woodland paradise with gothic arches hidden viewpoints and rivers roaring through deep woodland.

“Frost on the trees transforms every path into a postcard worthy scene.”

The Dolgoch Falls, LL36 9UW

This scenic walk allows people to take in a series of three waterfalls near Tywyn in Gwynedd, North Wales. Part of the stream Nant Dôl-goch, which flows into the Afon Fathew, the waterfalls are a very popular site and easily accessed by a short walk.

Tom added: “Three waterfalls crashing through a moss covered gorge. Cold air hits the spray and suddenly you are in a winter rainforest. Free, powerful and stupidly beautiful.”

Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has spoken about the alleged racist abuse of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, while his club has released a video of the incident

Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni has denied being racist towards Vinicius Junior, instead claiming that the Real Madrid star “misinterpreted” what he said. The Champions League play-off first leg between the two sides was halted on Tuesday night after Vinicius reported alleged racist abuse to the referee.

Vinicius put Real 1-0 up in the 50th minute at the Estadio da Luz before being booked for excessive celebrations in front of the home fans, who threw things in his direction. Just as the match was about to kick off, Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier to report that he had been racially abused.

The Brazilian winger accused Argentina’s Prestianni of being racist towards him by the centre circle and walked off the pitch followed by his team-mates. The match was suspended for 10 minutes before restarting, with Real completing a 1-0 win.

Vinicius later posted a statement on social media which read: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish them.

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READ MORE: Mark Clattenburg’s remarks on Vinicius Jr’s alleged racist abuse spark major backlashREAD MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold slams alleged racist abuse of Vinicius Junior – ‘A disgrace’

“Nothing that happened here is new in my life or my family’s. I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like appearing in situations like this, especially after a great victory when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”

Prestianni also posted on social media, writing: “I want to clarify that at no time did I direct racist insults at the player Vinicius Junior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he heard. I have never been racist and I regret the threats I received from Real Madrid players.” Benfica shared it along with the comment: “Together, by your side.”

Meanwhile, Benfica also took the remarkable step of uploading a video of the incident taken from the sidelines which showed the moment Prestianni pulled his shirt over his face before saying something towards Vinicius.

The Portuguese club used it as supposed evidence that Vinicius’ team-mates could not have heard what was said, despite Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappe being in the vicinity.

Benfica wrote: “As the images demonstrate, given the distance, the Real Madrid players could not have heard what they claim to have heard.”

Their comments echoed those of manager Jose Mourinho, who accused Vinicius of inciting the crowd with his celebration and said Benfica is not a racist club. “I saw two completely different things. I want to be independent, and I don’t comment about it. I told him [Vinicius] exactly that,” he told Amazon Prime.

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“I told him [Vinicius] – when you score a goal like that you just celebrate and walk back. When he was arguing about racism, I told him the biggest person [Eusebio] in the history of this club was black.

“This club, the last thing that it is, is racist. If in his mind there was something in relation to that – this in Benfica. They [Vinicius and Prestianni] told me different things. But I don’t believe in one or another. I want to be an independent.”

Vinicius was supported by his team-mates. “Vini’s been subjected to this a few times throughout his career and for it to happen tonight and ruin the night for us as a team is a disgrace,” Trent Alexander-Arnold said. “Like I said, it’s a disgrace to football. There’s no place for it in football or society. It’s disgusting.”

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We rolled up just before midday and there was no queue. I had flat iron beef with sausage, kimchi and cauliflower burnt ends, paired with a flight of condiments and rounded off by their excellent banana pudding. You will, at this point, be wanting to walk it all off. If you have a car, head east to McKinney Falls, a pretty national park where waterfalls cascade between big, flat rocks. Some of the natural pools are for swimming and there are several hiking trails, though it’s small enough to simply meander around.

The Santander building near the Albert Bridge was originally built in the late 1990’s for Abbey National

A former banking call centre in Belfast is to become a Transitional Care Unit after a decision at City Hall.

Elected representatives at the Belfast City Council Planning Committee on Tuesday (February 17), unanimously approved an application for the proposed change of use from an office to a short term Transitional Care Unit, at Santander House, 1 Mays Meadow, Belfast, close to the Albert Bridge. The Santander building was originally built in the late 1990s for Abbey National.

The unit will comprise 73 ensuite beds, rehabilitation suites and treatment rooms, a laboratory, consulting rooms, a cafe, two external terraces and ancillary staff and storage rooms. The development will include an ambulance drop-off bay, the replacement of existing windows, and other associated site and access works.

READ MORE: Shared Island Initiative money saves Donegall Pass Community Centre £7,000 a year in electricity bills

READ MORE: GAA pitches and soccer pitch for Boucher Road approved amid plans for new large scale venue

There will be a number of access points to the site, a pedestrian access via East Bridge Street, an ambulance drop-off point to the rear and internal access from the undercroft parking area. The proposal provides 37 parking spaces within the lower ground floor level.

The applicants are Life Works Developments Ltd, Clare Road, Gilford BT63. Statutory and non-statutory consultees supported the proposal, and the council received no third party representations. Council officers recommended the application for approval.

The council officer planning report states: “The proposal is within an accessible city centre location, the surrounding commercial character ensures there is no impact on residential amenity. The proposal being for a change of use of an existing modern building ensures there is no impact on natural or built heritage assets.

“The proposal will have replacement windows fitted, these will be of a similar design and finish to the existing windows with some glazing panels replaced with opaque glazes units. This will not impact on the existing style of the building or on the surrounding character

“The city centre location of the site, allows for all forms of transport to be used to access the building, the site benefits from direct access to footpaths, cycle lanes, and both bus and trains public transport.”

It adds: “These include new insulation and new windows operating at a higher efficiency. The reuse of an existing building is also beneficial for the environment.”

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Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on Tuesday afternoon

The driver of a bus carrying 40 schoolchildren that was involved in a serious crash in Co Armagh has died after the tragic incident.

The update comes hours after emergency services were called to reports of a collision on the Tullyah Road in Belleeks, Co Armagh, shortly before 3:45pm after a private coach carrying schoolchldren from St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook flipped over and was left lying on its side on top of a hedge.

Eyewitnesses said children were seen climbing out of the bus through the windows and the roof to escape the wreckage. No students sustained serious injuries in the horror crash.

Private coach company Quinn Coaches has now sadly confirmed that the driver of the bus died shortly after the crash took place. A spokesperson for the private bus company said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our drivers was involved in a road traffic accident whilst transporting school children today. Despite immediate emergency response, our dear colleague sadly passed away.

“Our first thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed.”

They added: “We are relieved to confirm that no children were injured during the incident. The safety and wellbeing of our drivers and passengers is always our highest priority.”

Police remain at the scene with crash scene investigators combing the site to make sense of what happened in the lead up to the crash.

Dáithí Murray, principal of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, confirmed that the children were safe and had now returned home.

In a letter to families, he said: “We appreciate that this will have caused a significant shock to pupils who experienced the incident.”

Mr Murray added that members of the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be at the school on Wednesday “to support pupils affected by the incident”.

He encouraged pupils “if they feel well enough” to attend school on Wednesday and that “staff will signpost them to the support services available”.

Mr Murray added: “The thoughts and prayers of the St Paul’s community are extended to everyone affected by this serious incident today.”

The Education Authority has said it is providing “critical incident management support to the school” following the incident.

“Our critical incident team will be in the school tomorrow (Wednesday) to provide emotional support for pupils as required. Our thoughts go out to all of those impacted by the incident,” a spokesperson said.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service earlier said it was called to the scene of a significant incident, involving a bus.