Romance for Brand and Geri Halliwell?

Russell Brand and Geri Halliwell are enjoying a "very serious" romance, it has been claimed.

The 37-year-old funnyman, who is divorced from Wide Awake singer Katy Perry, and the Spice Girl have known each other for years but reportedly began dating after the Olympics closing ceremony on August 12.

Russell - who admitted to having a crush on Geri after the star-studded finale in London - has apparently split from American girlfriend Isabella Brewster so he can pursue a relationship with the 40-year-old singer, according to The Sun.

Russell Brand

"I've got a crush on Geri Halliwell - everything in the world is how it should be," he said, as he posed for a picture with the reunited girl group.

The pair are rumoured to have visited Hampton Court Palace with Geri's six-year-old daughter Bluebell over the bank holiday weekend.

"They had met several times in the past, but really got to know each other during the Olympics. People thought Russell was joking at the time, when he said he had a crush on Geri all over again, but it was true," a source told The Sun.

Russell had been rumoured to be considering moving in with former talent agent Isabella, following his divorce from Katy, which was finalised in July.

Geri, who previously said that the comedian is "really funny and intelligent but not the type of man I go for", ended her three-year romance with aristocratic ex-boyfriend Henry Beckwith last September.