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Russell Grant

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Russell Grant
Born
Russell John Dammerall Grant[1]

(1951-02-05) 5 February 1951 (age 73)
Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
Occupation(s)Media personality, author, astrologer
Years active1979–present
PartnerDoug Beaumont[2] (1972–)
WebsiteOfficial Website

Russell John Dammerall Grant[1] (born 5 February 1951)[1] is a British astrologer and media personality.[2] He has written several books on astrology, provides syndicated newspaper horoscopes and operates premium rate astrology phone lines.[3] In March 2010, he began offering a "Pet Psychic" service.[4] He is also the author of The Real Counties of Britain,[5] and founded the Association of British Counties in 1989.[6]

In recent years, Grant has participated in the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2011 and Celebrity MasterChef in 2014.

Early life

Grant was raised in a council house in the 1950s, his father working as a sales rep for a car accessory business.[3] Later, his parents worked at Pinewood Studios: his mother Jo dealt with contracts, and his father was a set designer. Grant spent most of his childhood in the care of his grandparents.[2] After losing both his grandmothers, Lily Grant and Alice, to Alzheimer's disease, Grant suffered clinical depression,[2] and once weighed 27 stone (172 kg).[7]

Career

Early career

Grant's original career was as an actor, and he performed in a variety of productions, including Tom Brown's Schooldays[8] with Keith Chegwin, who shared a similar career path from acting to television.[2] Grant has also worked as a Redcoat at Butlin's Holiday Camps.[9]

Grant first appeared on television talking about astrology in 1979, featuring in the Yorkshire Television programme Extraordinary, presented by Valerie Pitts and Melvin Harris.[10] Grant was the regular astrologer on Granada Television's Live from Two which ran from 1980–81. He is best known for his appearances on breakfast television joining BBC's Breakfast Time to present the Your Stars section from 1983–86.[10] In 1986 he joined TV-am as resident astrologer appearing on Good Morning Britain and After Nine until 1990.[10] Later from 1992–95 he was a regular expert on This Morning with Richard and Judy offering astrological advice.[10]

In 1983 Russell Grant and the Starlettes released cover versions of the songs "No Matter What Sign You Are" and "Where Is Love?".[11]

Grant has also taken the role of presenter on several shows, including Star Choice, a celebrity quiz show based on the zodiac.[10] In 1991 he co-hosted with Miriam Stoppard episodes of daily show People Today[10] and in 1994 Grant had his own six episode series, Russell Grant's All Star Show.[12]

Following the launch of Channel 5, Grant presented Wideworld, a series in which members of the public were encouraged to make historical records for future generations.[10] He also directed and starred in Russell Grant's Postcards from 1998–2002, which was a collection of over 100 five-minute travelogues produced by his own production company, Russell Grant's World Productions.[13]

2003–2005: Television presenting

In 2003 Grant presented a series of eight programmes called Russell Grant's Sporting Scandals for ITV[14] and in 2004 presented The Russell Grant Show for Sky One. On Bingo Night Live, in 2008,[15] pre-recorded videos of Grant were shown, in which he gave opinion on the chances of winning based on his horoscope readings.

2006–2011: Reality television

In January 2006, Grant took part in the fourth series of Celebrity Fit Club. In May 2010, he appeared on Kitchen Burnout on ITV[16] and in January 2011 he visited Turkey as part of Channel 4's Celebrity Five Go to....[17][18]

2011–12: Strictly Come Dancing and theatre

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing

On 6 September 2011, it was announced that Grant would take part in the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[19] In the launch show, on 10 September, he was partnered with professional dancer Flavia Cacace.[20] He was eliminated from the competition on 20 November 2011 at the show's Wembley Arena weekend.[21]

Grant also appeared in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two as 'Stat Man', with a guide to the numbers of winners of Strictly Come Dancing.[22]

It was revealed in October 2012, that the annual Children in Need Appeal Night would feature a Strictly Come Dancing special, it featured Grant alongside Ann Widdecombe.[23]

Beginning performances on 14 February 2012, Grant took over from Michael Crawford in the titular role of The Wizard of Oz. The 2011 revival played at the London Palladium and featured new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Grant played a limited 12-week engagement through 6 May 2012, starring alongside Sophie Evans as Dorothy.

Week Dance/Song Judges' scores Total Scores Result
1 Cha-cha-cha / "Venus" 4,5,6,6 21 Safe
2 Salsa / "Dancing Queen" 6,6,6,7 25 Safe
3 Foxtrot / "Don't Rain on My Parade" 6,7,7,8 28 Safe
4 Tango / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" 5,6,6,7 24 Safe
5 Samba / "Better the Devil You Know" 4,6,6,6 22 Safe
6 Paso Doble / "Carmen" 4,7,6,7 24 Safe
7 American Smooth / "I Am What I Am" 5,7,7,7 26 Safe
8 Jive / "Reach" 5,6,6,7 24 Eliminated

2014: Celebrity MasterChef

Main article: Celebrity MasterChef

On 24 May 2014, it was announced that Grant would be taking part in the ninth series of Celebrity MasterChef.[24] The series began airing on 10 June 2014 with Grant taking part in the first two episodes of the series until he was eliminated on 12 June, one stage away from reaching the semi-finals.

The first challenge was the Mystery box task, where Grant made two types of Spring Rolls. The outside challenge saw Grant, along with Jodie Kidd go to Babbo, a high-end Italian restaurant in Mayfair, London. Grant had to make a dish in order to impress the head chef. The third and final challenge of the episode saw Grant cook a two-course meal for the judges. The meal had to be inspired by something or someone. Grant made his Aunt's Fish and Chips & Bread and Butter pudding.

On the second episode dated 12 June 2014, Grant needed to identify a variety of ingredients and making Brandy snaps with piped ginger cream in the knowledge and skills test. The outside challenge was to cook for 120 people at Mount Pleasant in North London. He also then cooked for three previous Celebrity MasterChef finalists. He cooked Three counties sausage toad in the hole and Honey, cinnamon and Apple crumble with custard and was eliminated from the contest.

Guest appearances

Early and personal life

Grant was raised in a council house in the 1950s, his father working as a sales rep for a car accessory business.[3] Later his parents worked at Pinewood Studios, his mother Jo dealing with contracts, his father a set designer and he spent most of his childhood in the care of his grandparents.[2] After losing both his grandmothers, Lily Grant and Alice, to Alzheimer's disease, Grant suffered clinical depression[2] and once weighed 27 stone (172 kg).[25]

Grant's original career was as an actor and he performed in a variety of productions including Tom Brown's Schooldays[26] with Keith Chegwin who shared a similar career path from acting to television. It is through this work he met his partner Doug Beaumont, who worked as a stagehand in a Blackpool theatre.[2]

Grant helped design the badge for Brentford F.C., the team he supports, though he has been a keen follower of all non-league clubs in Middlesex since the 1950s, having regularly attended games at various clubs during childhood.[27] He is a patron of Wealdstone F.C.[28]

Grant has worked as a Redcoat at Butlin's Holiday Camps.[29]

Grant moved to Cardiff in 1969 then lived in Barry for 20 years as well as Usk near Abergavenny.[30] He now lives near the village of Maentwrog, Merionethshire, and has learnt basic Welsh.[31] Grant has been with his partner Doug Beaumont, who is also his manager, for 50 years.[32]

In 1996 Grant purchased the title "Lord of the Manor of Ashford".[33]

On 1 March 2023, Grant announced that he had undergone surgery for brain cancer in December 2022, and that he was now in recovery.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Researcha.co.ukTerms and Conditions". Web.researcha.com. Retrieved 30 July 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Carole Cadwalladr (1 January 2006). "I've played my own role to death". The Observer. London.
  3. ^ a b c Mark Anstead (8 July 2009). "Fame & Fortune: Astrologer Russell Grant". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  4. ^ "Russell Grant reveals if your Pet is Happy!". Response Source. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  5. ^ Russell Grant (1996). The Real Counties of Britain. Virgin Books. ISBN 1-85227-479-4.
  6. ^ "By George! England's traditional counties can return to England's roads – Press releases". GOV.UK. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  7. ^ "The Saturday Show". The Saturday Show (Channel 5 TV series). 13 February 2016. Channel 5.
  8. ^ "Isle of Man Actors — Russell Grant". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
  9. ^ Andy McSmith (2 August 2008). "Butlins booms in lean times". The Independent. London.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Filmography GRANT, Russell". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
  11. ^ "Russell Grant and the Starlettes". 45cat.
  12. ^ "Russell Grant's All Star Show". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Russell Grant's Postcards". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Russell Grant's Sporting Scandals". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Bingo Night Live". UK Gameshows.
  16. ^ "Kitchen Burnout". UK Gameshows.
  17. ^ Celebrity Five Go to... at UKGameshows.com
  18. ^ Celebrity Five Go to... on Channel 4
  19. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing signs up Lulu and Edwina Currie". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Russell Grant". Strictly Come Dancing. BBC. 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  21. ^ "Russell Grant leaves Strictly". Strictly Come Dancing. BBC. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  22. ^ "Strictly It Takes Two Series 10 Episode 19". bbc.co.uk/iplayer. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  23. ^ Fletcher, Alex (30 October 2012). "Russell Grant, Widdecombe return to 'Strictly' for Children in Need". digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Celebrity MasterChef lineup revealed". Digital Spy. 23 May 2014.
  25. ^ "The Saturday Show". The Saturday Show (Channel 5 TV series). 13 February 2016. Channel 5.
  26. ^ "Isle of Man Actors — Russell Grant". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
  27. ^ "Grant on Football Forum discusses the 2012 FA cup first round". Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  28. ^ "CLUB OFFICIALS | Ruislip | Wealdstone F.C."
  29. ^ Andy McSmith (2 August 2008). "Butlins booms in lean times". The Independent. London.
  30. ^ "Strictly's Russell Grant backs Harlech showbiz academy". BBC News. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Astrologer Russell Grant to appear in TV soap Pobol y Cwm". BBC News. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Russell Grant: from suicidal recluse to the star of Strictly". The Daily Telegraph. London. 6 November 2011.
  33. ^ "Press article on Suffolk manors cites Russell Grant's ownership of the [[incorporeal hereditament]], though not its land". 6 November 2003. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  34. ^ "Astrologer Russell Grant shares cancer battle update while recovering from brain tumour operation". Metro. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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