Inside Russell Brand's marriage to wife Laura Gallacher

Russell Brand's love affair with his now wife Laura Gallacher was sparked when she was just 19 years old. 

The pair met through Laura's Sky Sports star sister, Kirsty, in 2007 before beginning a whirlwind romance. 

At the time, the comedian - who by then had become a Hollywood star - was 30 and presenting on Radio 2. It was a job he would be forced to quit after leaving Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs lewd voicemails about his granddaughter.

Brand recalled the initial fling with his now-wife years later on The Wendy Williams Show, saying: 'We went out with each other, we loved each other very much, but I thought the world was an amusement park made out of orgasms.' 

'We met when she was 19 and I was 30. She fully loves me for what I am,' Brand later told Stylist. 'She's not interested in the famous person at all.'

But the early romance was turbulent; Laura's golf legend father Bernard Gallacher hated the age gap between his daughter and her new millionaire suitor, with a friend telling the Daily Mail: 'He begged her to end it.' 

And soon it did. As Brand's fame grew, he moved to Hollywood - where he met pop royalty Katy Perry, before eventually marrying the singer in October 2010. 

But this Tinsel Town marriage soon soured, with Brand infamously telling Perry he was divorcing her by text on New Year's Eve, 2011. The pair reportedly haven't spoken since, with Perry describing her fling with the comedian as a 'tornado'.  

Speaking in an interview on Australian 60 Minutes in August 2020, Perry said: 'I was having great success at 23, 24 and 25 and then I met someone that was interesting and stimulating.

'It was just like a tornado, it was everything happening at once.'

Although describing him as a 'very funny man', global mega star Perry, 40, conceded her marriage to him was plagued by 'friction'. 

'Let's just say I haven't heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me on December 31, 2011,' she added in an interview with Vogue magazine. 

It was amid the fallout of his explosive break up with the American that Brand rekindled his love affair with Laura almost by chance, in 2015. 

Broken-hearted after her own relationship ended, a friend coaxed Laura out of her flat for a walk. There, as she strolled near her home, was Russell Brand.

It was 'like he'd organised it' Gallacher later confessed. 'I hadn't seen Russell for years,' she added. 'He was so different. We both immediately knew it was going to be serious.'

Their romance was a whirlwind and they immediately moved into together. 'Laura was besotted, and she wanted to mend him,' a friend said at the time.

But Gallacher insisted she also wanted the couple's second attempt at love to work.

'You have to rebuild your foundations and trust again, we did it the right way,' she said.

'It was very slow, it was getting to know each other and going out on day trips together.'

The pair tied the knot in 2017 and have three children.

They welcomed their third child into the world in 2023, with Brand last year saying his youngest had been born with 'health complications'.

Today, 50-year-old comic Brand was charged with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault against four women - in a move that could potentially cast fresh strain on his marriage. 

Detectives began an investigation after he was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse by several women in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

The Metropolitan Police has now charged Brand - who lives in Florida - by post with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four different women, and issued a court summons.

Brand has previously denied the accusations, and said all his sexual relationships were 'absolutely always consensual'. The alleged incidents took place between 1999 and 2005, and Brand is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 2. 

Brand's loved ones have previously stood by him over the claims. 

Brand is now charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.

Essex-born Brand was also charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005. Both offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster.

On Wednesday, Brand attended a record reveal party for prominent Christian worship singer Brandon Lake in Charleston, South Carolina.

Appearing on stage together, Brand told Lake that he was 'so honoured' to be there and the 'palpable presence of the Lord is a glory to behold'.

Brand added: 'Man, I really admire you because I don't think it's very easy to live in a commercial space, to be an entertainer, and remain aligned with the Lord.

'It seems like a place that's fraught with temptation and spiritual warfare and I think that all of us - particularly someone like me who has come to Christ very recently…

‘I can feel that there is a lot of change and a lot of transformation and I feel blessed to be in a community of people that are able to hold this incredible amount of change.'

Today, Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said: 'The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.

'The Met's investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk.

'Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.'

Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences.

'We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.

'We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.

'He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first hearing on Friday 2 May 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

'It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'