Johnny backs firefighters' strike

Johnny Vegas has pledged his support for the firefighters' pay claim, making an impromptu appearance at a union seminar.

And he has said he would be interested in organising a benefit in aid of their strike fund.

The comic took a break from filming in Torquay to address a Fire Brigades' Union seminar.

He told them: "It's all about fair wages. You are fighting for a rise you didn't get under the Tories and now the Labour Party are doing the same thing. You've been denied this over a long period of time.

"You have a right to ask for a fair wage and they are saying it's unrealistic. Don't let them portray you as that. I sincerely wish you all the best."

But his speech on Saturday afternoon was interrupted by a 999 call. "I have never been heckled like that before," he joked.

Johnny told the South Devon Herald Express: "I have felt strongly about things in the past but never really got up and did anything about it.

"I couldn't make any excuses for not coming down for this."

Vegas was in Torquay filming his role Mel Smith's film Blackball.

Published: 21 Oct 2002