| Russ Spencer | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Russell Spencer |
| Born | March 1, 1979 Bournemouth, England |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupations | Singer, Television presenter |
| Years active | 1998- |
| Labels | EMI, Warner Bros. Records |
| Associated acts | Scooch, The Honeytraps |
Russell Spencer (born 1 March 1979 in Bournemouth, Dorset)[1] is an English television presenter and singer.
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Spencer is a television presenter, hosting shows such as the ITV1 game show Make Your Play. He was also anchor presenter three nights a week for The Great Big British Quiz on Five. Other presenting credits include MTV, The Disney Channel,Generation X for the BBC, Quiz Call, Quiz TV and Glitterball for ITV1. Russ also starred in the cult-hit Channel 4 and E4 series Boys Will Be Girls, trying to pass himself off as a woman! The series has now been shown worldwide and is currently airing in Russia. Other credits include spots on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Pop Moments we Hate to Love for the BBC and Wannabe and Radio Ga Ga for VH1. Early in 2010, Spencer appeared alongside fellow Scooch member, Caroline Barnes, on the Channel 4 series, "Coach Trip". Television acting work includes guest roles in series six of Channel 4’s "Shameless" and "Footballers' Wives" for ITV1.
Russ and his pop group Scooch represented the UK at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Finland. On 17 March 2007 Scooch reformed after seven years and won Making Your Mind Up, a BBC contest to determine the UK's entry in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest beating amongst others Justin Hawkins and Brian Harvey. Russ co-wrote the song "Flying The Flag (For You)", signed to Warner Music and stormed the UK charts to the number five position.
Originally formed in 1999, Scooch signed to EMI and gained four top twenty hits including their other top five single "More Than I Needed to Know", all culminating in the album "Four Sure". Worldwide Scooch scored number one singles in Japan and Australia.
Scooch were Ambassadors for the Children’s Health Authority and to this day hold the record for the highest charting Eurovision single since 1997 when the UK last won the contest. They are also proud to have performed at every Arena across the UK.
Numerous television credits include, Top of the Pops, SMTV Live, CD:UK, Live & Kicking, The Pepsi Chart Show, The Priory, The Big Breakfast, GMTV, LK Today, Richard & Judy, This Morning, Loose Women, So Graham Norton, The National Lottery, Popworld and BBC Breakfast.
Trained at Laine Theatre Arts, theatre work includes the original West End cast of "Nine', the UK National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring as "The Child Catcher" alongside Craig McLachlan. He created the role of "Ricky St Clair" in the UK Tour of Dave Simpson’s "The eXtra Factor", "Joe" in Santa Claus - The Musical alongside Anita Dobson and Roy Barraclough at The Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, Wayne Sleep’s Explosive Dance & "Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Birthday Celebration" both at the Royal Albert Hall and a World Tour as lead vocalist with The New Zealand and Hawaii Symphony Orchestras.
Numerous pantomime appearances include "Prince" in "Cinderella" at The Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent and The Lighthouse, Poole. "Puss in Boots at The Theatre Royal, Windsor and "Prince" in "Snow White" at The Broadway Theatre, Catford and The Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.
In 2008 Russ was a presenter for the Independent Local Radio station 107.8 Radio Jackie.
Spencer appeared on the Channel 4 series Coach Trip with long-term partner Caroline Barnes. The pair were in Scooch together and currently live in London. They were red-carded on day 36, after 19 days on the coach, for having broken the rules by asking others to vote them off.