Bridgett Casteen, the live-in girlfriend of the actor who plays Coach Beiste in the hit American TV show, is fighting ex-husband for custody of her two children.

In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, Bridgett said: ‘I sued my ex-husband for custody so that I can have my children in California with me and Dot.’

Casteen has been returning to visit her children in Georgia each month.

‘We had a verbal agreement where I was providing food and clothes for them,’ she added. ‘It wasn't until we went to court earlier this month that we were told by a judge that the verbal agreement didn't have legal standing and that I owed $28,000.

‘I immediately paid $10,000 of that amount.’

Jones, who joined the all-singing, all-dancing TV show in series two has been twice nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2012, and has long supported equality for the LGBT community.