| Russell Grant, one of Britain’s favourite | | | | began a stint as one of the original presenters on the |
| astrologers, was born on 5 February 1951 in Hillingdon, | | | | BBC’s Breakfast Time. He also launched a |
| Middlesex. | | | | number of astrological books, including the best-selling |
| Both of Grant’s parents worked at the | | | | The Illustrated Dream Dictionary. These proved to be |
| infamous Pinewood Studios; his mother was in charge | | | | so successful, they were translated into more than |
| of contracts, while his father was a set designer. Due | | | | 20 languages. In addition to this, he continued to |
| to the long hours that both parents worked, | | | | write for newspapers and magazines, contributing |
| Russell’s grandmother, Alice, was mainly | | | | horoscopes and astrological advice. |
| responsible for his upbringing. However, his | | | | Since then, Russell’s TV work has broadened |
| parent’s work in the film industry still had a | | | | and he has appeared in a number of programmes, |
| profound influence on their son, as he grew up | | | | such as Russell Grant's Postcards from Britain. He also |
| wanting to be a performer. | | | | focuses a lot of energy on his astrology website, |
| After attending the Abbotsfield School in Hillingdon, | | | | which also features numerology, tarot divination, |
| Russell concentrated on his acting career. Roles in | | | | Chinese astrology, star naming services, and psychic |
| Please Sir, On the Buses and Doctor in the House | | | | services. |
| followed, as well as a number of theatre tours. When | | | | Russell had a mini heart attach in May 2005, so on |
| he was 20, a tour took Russell to Blackpool, which | | | | the orders of his doctor, he appeared on Celebrity Fit |
| was where he met Doug Beaumont. The pair | | | | Club the following year, alongside Carole Malone and |
| immediately became a couple, and they’ve | | | | Micky Quinn. At the beginning of the series, he |
| been together ever since. Russell attributes their | | | | weighed in at 21st 11lbs. |
| strong relationship to their similar birth charts, he said: | | | | Russell’s hobbies include learning about |
| “We have a lot of Jupiter in the marital | | | | Middlesex’s local history, watching minor |
| segment of our charts. We have a laugh. And he's | | | | league cricket, doing calligraphy and taking part in pub |
| lovely, Doug. He's a very kind person.” | | | | quizzes. In addition to this, he continues to indulge his |
| Throughout his acting career, Russell pursued his | | | | passion for acting. In 2005, he appeared in a |
| interest in astrology and was awarded an astrology | | | | production of Soap at the Alan Ayckbourn theatre in |
| column in the Daily Mail. A chance encounter with the | | | | Scarborough. He received rave reviews for his role in |
| Queen Mother at the Ideal Home Show in 1978 | | | | the production, although he was hurtfully described |
| boosted his career further still. After giving her a | | | | by one national newspaper as ‘chubby TV |
| reading, he was dubbed the ‘Astrologer | | | | astrologer Russell Grant’. |
| Royal’ by the press, which launched his career | | | | Russell currently has homes in Middlesex and Lytham |
| as a full-time astrologer. | | | | St Annes, as well as a massive 40-acre home near |
| Russell was soon snapped up by TV bosses and | | | | Portmeirion in North Wales, which he and Doug live in. |