It was a chance encounter on a canal towpath in London’s East End that changed Laura Gallacher’s life forever.
Eight years ago, a heartbroken friend persuaded her to take a walk out of her apartment after her relationship ended. As she strolled near her home, Russell Brand could be seen – fresh from his own split from American singer Katy Perry.
It was “as if he had organized it,” admits Ms Gallacher, the younger sister of TV star Kirsty Gallacher and daughter of 87-year-old golfer Bernard Gallacher, who actually dated the controversial comedian several years earlier when she was 18 was.
“I hadn’t seen Russell in years,” she adds. “He was so different. “We both knew straight away that it was going to be serious.”
Their romance was actually a whirlwind and they moved in together immediately. “Laura was doting and wanted to cure him,” says a friend.
Russell Brand went for a walk with Laura Gallacher in 2017. Brand had just broken up with American singer Katy Perry
Gallacher dated the controversial comedian several years ago when she was 18 years old
Laura Gallacher with Russell Brand at Scott’s Restaurant in Mount Street, London for David Walliams’ birthday party
Despite her support for her husband, Ms Gallacher (pictured shopping in London in July) caused a stir on Saturday when it was revealed she had deleted her Instagram account
And perhaps that’s why Ms Gallacher is standing by her husband – at least for now – despite the sordid allegations of rape and assault on a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
“What Russell did was firmly in the past, long before he and Laura met,” the friend added.
“Of course it’s not easy, but they are determined to get through this.”
Despite her support for her husband, Ms Gallacher caused a stir on Saturday when it was revealed she had deleted her Instagram account.
Meanwhile, big sister Kirsty, 47, was very busy with her child. She publicly supported her brother-in-law – and showed her support for her younger sibling – when she reposted the video alongside a giant red love heart emoji, before removing it shortly after the full extent of the allegations came to light.
She shared the two-minute clip in which he denied the “very serious criminal allegations” made against him on Instagram.
However, around an hour after the claims were published, the former Sky Sports presenter removed them from her “Stories” on the social media platform. While Kirsty has so far refused to comment on the matter, friends say Kirsty is very loyal to her sister and has a good relationship with Brand.
Some may be surprised that Brand’s domestic life is still completely intact in his stunning £3million thatched riverside home near Henley in Oxfordshire, but to those in the know that’s not the case. Because she is the woman known for taming him, after years of living as a devilish womanizer whose busy and colorful love life was rarely found in the tabloids.
Gallacher’s sister Kirsty (left) publicly supported her brother-in-law. She shared Brand’s video denying the “very serious allegations,” but soon deleted the post after the full extent of the allegations came to light
Laura Gallacher (left) with her sister Kirsty (right). Kirsty posted the video on Instagram alongside a love heart emoji in support of her sister before removing it
Gallacher is the woman known for taming Brand after years of living as a raging womanizer whose busy and colorful love life was rarely found in the tabloids
Ms. Gallacher, 36, a “mummy blogger” and author of the parenting book “The Joy Journal For Magical Everyday Play,” is considered “good-natured” and, despite coming from a high-profile family, likes to stay out of the spotlight.
Aside from the occasional appearance on the 48-year-old Brand’s widely watched YouTube channel, where she’s either making soft soap or baking trays for the garden, she keeps her head down. There are no red carpet appearances and all pictures of the couple are paparazzi shots. She is the housewife who cooks him pesto pasta or frozen pie and chips for dinner, accompanies him around the world and quietly supports him on his tours.
Since they met in 2015, there has not been even the slightest rumor that Brand has had any other lovers, proving that Ms Gallacher, who is currently heavily pregnant with the couple’s third child, helped cure his rampant sex addiction.
However, that wasn’t her only experience with Brand. They first met in 2007 when Brand appeared on Radio 2.
It came through Ms Gallacher’s big sister Kirsty, and they dated for a short time when she was a teenage art student. After their separation, Brand went to Hollywood, where he won a number of film roles and, perhaps more memorably, married Ms. Perry.
After their split, Brand moved back to London, where he briefly dated Jemima Goldsmith.
Ms. Gallacher, 36, a “mummy blogger” and author of the parenting book “The Joy Journal For Magical Everyday Play,” is considered “good-natured” and, despite coming from a high-profile family, likes to stay out of the spotlight
Russell Brand and Laura Gallagher at the British Curry Awards 2018. The couple have two children, Mabel, six, and Peggy, three, and are expecting a third in November
Ms Gallacher recalls the moment she got back together with him: “My ex had literally moved out of our apartment that day and I was heartbroken with mascara running down my face.” “A friend dragged me for a walk to the canal in east London, where I had never been in my life, and when we reached the footpath Russell was standing there as if he had organized it.”
A year later they had their first child, Mabel, six, then came Peggy, three, and in 2017 they married. Their third child is expected in November.
Ms. Gallacher was, of course, nowhere to be seen as Brand filmed his two-minute video on Friday evening in which he insisted that the relationships he had were “absolutely always consensual.” He added that he was “very, very promiscuous.”
The question naturally arises as to what the Gallacher family really thinks of Brand.
“They are very close to Laura and support her through this,” said a friend. “Russell isn’t going anywhere.”
At least for now.