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