ɹˈʌsəl wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn bˈɜːmɪŋˌæm, ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn bɹˈɑːmsɡɹoʊv ænd wʌz ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt nˈɔːɹθ bɹˈɑːmsɡɹoʊv hˈaɪ skˈuːl.
Russell was born in Birmingham, grew up in Bromsgrove and was educated at North Bromsgrove High School.