Russell Grant was born in Hillingdon, Middlesex and raised in the world-famous heart hospital village, Harefield, also in Middlesex.
At 12 years old he landed the first of many roles on television, ranging from the BBC's Wednesday Play and classics such as Canterbury Tales to popular sitcoms such as The Doctor Series, On The Buses and Please Sir.
Whilst performing on stage and in studio Russell was a gifted psychic and was studying astrology through Rita Szymanski, the then treasurer of the Astrological Lodge of Great Britain.
A few years later Russell was 'on the boards' at the London Palladium with Tommy Steele and elected President of the British Astrological Psychic Society. His work brought him close friendships with psychic superstar, Doris Stokes and many famous and powerful people all over the world.
In 1978 Russell made history. He was presented, in public, to Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Lord and Lady Rothermere and Sir David English. He was dubbed "Astrologer Royal" by the media, a name that has stuck, as he was the first person in 300 years to publicly give an astrological consultation to the British royal family.
In that same year Russell's rise to fame was meteoric. He syndicated his stars column to over 450 newspapers world-wide and was signed by Granada Television to become the first daytime astrologer ever on British TV on an afternoon show called Live From Two.
1983 brought more recognition and ground breaking television for Russell when he became one of the original presenters of breakfast television. Staying with the BBC on Breakfast Time for five years before moving to TVAM at ITV for another four years.
During this time he had several best-selling books on astrology including:
Russell Grant's Sun Signs
Russell Grant's Dream Dictionary
Russell Grant's Astro Tarot Pack
Russell Grant's Book of Birthdays
He presented the daily show and the BBC 1 network series Russell in New York. A lifestyle programme on the Big Apple, this led to working for Fox television for nearly two years.
At the same time, Russell was asked to join Granada and Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan on This Morning and live in New York with a new US television programme called, ironically, Breakfast Time. He accepted both, flying regularly between the UK and US.
It was in 1994 he fronted his own ITV network show Russell Grant's All Star Show clocking up the best afternoon audiences of all time.
In the same year Russell was signed up by America Online, the major international Internet server, Russell's stars became a hit across the Internet with Britons and Americans alike flocking to read his stars. His Web site www.russellgrant.com currently attracts up to ten million visitors each and every month while over 100,000 people get their daily horoscopes delivered by e-mail direct to their computer desktops from Russell.
It was now Russell added a second string to his bow, one he first plucked as a kid. His publishers, Virgin, invited him to publish whatever he wanted. He did; The Real Counties of Britain, a hardback on Britain's local history and heritage shot into the best-sellers.
From here Dawn Airey, controller of the newly created Channel 5, asked Russell to join the fledgling company, another first for him.
The Guardian described Russell as "cult television" with "the wisdom of Solomon, the foresight of Cassandra and delivery of Liberace" and declaring Channel 5 had "hit the right formula" for modern television. The London Evening Standard said Russell Grant's Postcards from Britain "are superior fillers, produced, written, directed as well as presented by Grant".
Russell's stars can now be found on all the U.K.'s leading Internet Service Providers and search engines including America Online and AOL.co.uk, MSN as well as on the major search engines, Tiscali, IT Marketplace, and many, many more web sites, and digital TV platforms. Recently Russell moved into the text message area to spread his forecasts even further afield; working with partners such as Vodafone, Orange, O2 and T-Mobile and there's lots more in the pipeline!
Russell's partnership with Sky Television during the first quarter of 2004 has resulted in the successful scheduling of a one hour daily programme on Sky One between 1.15 and 2.15 repeated on Sky One Mix at 5.15 the show was highly interactive drawing on all the latest channels of communication from viewer phone-ins through to email, text messages and interactive messaging covering a vast range of astrological and new age features in general.
In the autumn of 2005 Russell was engaged in filming a new TV series for Sky Travel where he investigates cruises and cruise ships visiting a number of popular cruise destinations from the Caribbean to the Arctic Circle.
In January 2006 Russell's latest book "You Can Change Your Life" was published by Random House and is already exceeding expectations. With over 45,000 copies being ordered by a major supermarket chain the book is already scaling the Best Sellers List.
Russell has appeared in obligatory Narrator's role in Rocky Horror Show's National Tour but it is his performance as another Narrator in Under Milk Wood that has had the audience and critics shooting off superlatives. He directed the classic Dylan Thomas play and starred in the Richard Burton role - here is what a local critic, Simon Treadway said "I decided to go to Portmeirion because it was a typical Snowdonia day: rainy. I also wanted to test out my schadenfreude on the fact Russell Grant was acting .... I learned that day not to ever adopt such a preconceived idea that just because Grant is known as an astrologer he doesn't do anything else. I learned that acting was his preferred artform and I soon found out why. The production was innovative and exciting - it was only at the end I found out Grant had directed it. Busy with all the characters coming from different exits and entrances that left the audience wondering who was coming through what door next. And then Grant himself, now, to steal a phrase from his breakfast days, hold onto your hats, as I never thought I would write this - Russell Grant's timbre, presence and performance had me more gripped than Burton did in the original version now on CD. Grant has an Orson Welles quality about him, he commanded the stage and was always in control. The classic introduction until the entrance of Captain Cat is all Narrator, and he kept us with him all the way, with his lilting tones and contrasts of light and sound both with his eyes and voice. I am told it is A Midsummer Night's Dream next and Grant is Puck, well before this I would have said 'too old' but this man can play whatever part he wants, of that I am convinced, as he is a genuine, classic actor and a performer of rich and undiscovered talent - and I am pinching myself as I am saying this, but he reigned supreme in that theatre as the rain poured down outside".
For his new theatre concept, Casting in the Community, which brought together an array of talent throughout north Wales Russell directed the classic Dylan Thomas play and starred in the Richard Burton role. Casting in the Community integrates professional actors, amateur performers, performing arts students and people who have never been on stage before: experience not necessary, enthusiasm a must is the maxim! Next production: Russell directs and plays Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare at Portmeirion, April 2011 with the innovative theatre company embracing all walks of north Walian community life: Casting in the Community CITCOM www.citcom.info
Russell was appointed 'Senior Creative Director: Performing Arts' for Coleg Harlech in March 2011. His first Performing Arts Summer School was August 2011 Bliss! An original swinging sixties musical in which Russell plays Dusty Springfield as well as directing this new musical.
Russell's next project is a professional dream come true: learning how to dance on the BBC's top-rated series Strictly Come Dancing starting September 2011 until December 2011. Russell is partnered with World Champion Latin dancer, Flavia Cacace. Russell said "Although I went to stage school we never learned to dance, apart from chorus routines, so to learn how to dance properly with the world's most beautiful and talented Latino Terpsichore, Flavia Cacace, is more than I could ever have wished for". The show airs on BBC 1 on Saturday evenings.
