Big Brother's Jonny Regan stood by his firefighting colleagues yesterday in defence of their 40 per cent pay demand.

Britain's most famous firefighter is on a career break from the brigade, but hasn't ruled out a return.

The 29-year-old hit out at the Government, and warned: "They are the ones who caused this and they are the ones who can bring it to an end."

Jonny hasn't been back to work at the fire station in Peterlee, County Durham, since coming second to Kate Lawler in the Channel 4 show.

He said: "I am still a firefighter, even though I am on a career break, and I am right behind what the FBU is trying to achieve.

"When I was in the Big Brother house we were talking about the amount of money we were paid for our jobs. Apart from Lynne, who wasn't working, I was the lowest paid person in there."