Laura Gallacher walked into court alongside her husband Russell Brand after sticking by him as the star prepares for the start of his rape and sexual assault trial.
When Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London today for the start of his trial on rape and sexual assault charges, his wife was at his side. It had been unclear if she would make the journey from Florida, where the couple moved with their family in late 2024 – just before the US Presidential election – after quietly saying goodbye to rural Oxfordshire.
But we got our answer last week when former Channel 4 and movie star Brand appeared for a pre-trial hearing in a sharp grey suit with a long tie dangling down, clutching a battered Bible in one hand and 38-year-old Laura Gallacher’s hand in his other.
Flanked not only by security, loyal Laura was by his side as Brand said nothing to members of the press as he walked into the courthouse today in a grey suit, a white unbuttoned shirt with a brown neckerchief underneath, brown boots and sunglasses, which he took off as he walked past the assembled cameras. Laura was dressed in a dark brown suit and also wore shades.
Brand denies three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assaults, and one allegation of indecent assault, made by six women.
Who is Laura Gallacher?
Laura, 38, is an author and illustrator in Surrey in 1987 and the pair have been married for nine years. She’s a born again Christian, and recently agreed to join her husband in his new faith-based ventures.
Laura is the daughter of golf great Bernard Gallacher, the former Ryder Cup captain. She grew up at the plush Wentworth estate and golf community in Surrey, just outside London, where famous residents have included Sir Bruce Forsyth, Elton John and Sarah Ferguson.
When did they meet?
Russell and Laura Brand dated briefly in 2007. It didn’t last but they reconnected in 2015 after his two-year marriage to singer Katy Perry came to an end.
She told Grazia in 2020 during an interview about her parenting book: “My ex had literally moved out of our flat that day, and I was heartbroken, with mascara running down my face.
“A friend dragged me out on a walk to the canal in east London, where I’d never been in my life, and as we came on to the footpath, Russell was standing there.”
He proposed to Laura in June 2016, before they tied the knot in August 2017 in intimate church service near their home in Henley-on-Thames with close friends and family joining some celebs – Noel Gallagher, Jonathan Ross – to hear them say ‘I do’.
Her famous family
Laura is the sister of broadcaster and radio presenter Kirsty Gallacher, 50, who rose to fame as a Sky Sports presenter in the Nineties and has more recently worked for GB News and Smooth Radio.
Their dad Bernard, now 77, has retired from professional golf after a glittering career that including captaining the Europe team to victory at the Ryder Cup in 1995.
Reuniting for a ‘deeper connection’
Laura detailed how their love reignited for a deeper connection the second time around, explaining: “You have to rebuild your foundations and trust again, we did it the right way.
“It was very slow, it was getting to know each other and going out on day trips together,” the author added, speaking on the Made by Mammas podcast. “I hadn’t seen Russell for years, he was so different. We both immediately knew it was going to be serious.”
They built a quiet life in Oxfordshire, keeping dogs, chickens and cats and went for weekend cruises in a narrowboat. Laura said in one interview: “We really do have fun together. Sometimes, it can look like I’m dealing with an adult toddler, but Russell’s really into doing the stuff I’m into.”
Move to Florida
Russell shifted away from mainstream television and Hollywood films to focus heavily on podcasting and online content creation and swapped his Oxfordshire mansion for a home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
He said on the Rumble video platform: “I don’t live in the United Kingdom anymore because I personally have experienced how the media, government and judiciary, if you suddenly become an inconvenience, will find ways to attack and shut you down.”
Despite being British – he is from Grays in Essex – he’s become notable figure among Trump supporters and was spotted at his inauguration last year.
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