Who's your friend, Russell? Brand relaxes poolside with a Katy Perry lookalike as his wife recovers from food poisoning

At first glance, Russell Brand looks like he is having a whale of a time relaxing poolside in Los Angeles with wife Katy Perry.

However, on closer inspection, the lady showing off her figure in a tight black swimsuit is not Katy, but a brunette who looks astonishingly like the Firework singer. 

Perhaps Brand's new friend was just keeping him company by the hotel pool in Miami as Katy was struck down with food poisoning over the weekend - so much so that she was forced to reschedule two of her planned concerts.

Who's your friend? Russell Brand relaxes poolside with a Katy Perry lookalike as his wife recovers from food poisoning

She later promised: 'I am going to return in a few weeks to give them the very best show ever!'

Brand wore a pair of white patterned swimming shorts as he chilled out with his new friend on Sunday.

But Katy was clearly fully appraised of the situation as later in the day, the couple were seen out together stopping at a fruit stand in Los Angeles.

The pictures of the pair together, a rarity in recent months, are set to dismiss rumours their nine-month marriage it in trouble.

Chilling out: The pair looked comfortable in each other's company as they relaxed in the pool

Conversation: The brunette lady wore a black swimming costume while Brand wore a pair of patterned swimming shorts

It was even claimed the pair were considering a trial separation in a bid to keep their relationship on the right track.

A source told heat magazine that Katy had confided: 'We're thinking of taking a break from our marriage. I'm worried it could be the end of the road for us.'

However their spokesperson today vigorously denied the claim. 

The couple have been plagued with reports their marriage isn't working ever since they tied the knot last October after a whirlwind one year long-distance romance. 

Together again: Brand and Katy dispelled rumours of marital trouble as they were seen together on Sunday stopping at a fruit stand in Los Angeles

Vitamins: The fruit would no doubt have done Katy good, as she was hit with a nasty case of food poisoning over the weekend

But in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine earlier this year, Katy insisted she trusts her husband implicitly, despite his lothario past.

She said: 'There's never a dull moment. He has never lied to me once. I trust him; there’s just a level of trust that we’ve built up.'

However, in an interview on Piers Morgan's Life Stories at the beginning of the year, Brand said staying faithful for the rest of his life was a daunting prospect.

He admitted: 'I take it one step at a time - like with drugs, like with alcohol. Don't look at things as in "rest of life".

'Of course marriage is for life and that's what I wanted but anything for the rest of life can be daunting.'