EXCLUSIVE: Gogglebox star Sid Siddiqui is Staying on The Show for a HEARTBREAKING REASON

A Gogglebox favourite has continued to appear on the hit Channel 4 show while being signed off from his NHS job with stress. Sid Siddiqui, 80, who has starred on the award-winning reality series since 2013, is on leave from his role as an environmental manager at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust. The pensioner, who reportedly worked three days a week on a salary of up to £62,682, has been off sick on mental-health grounds since July – but has still been appearing on TV.

Sources say Sid was given full permission by both his doctor and employer to keep filming Gogglebox during his time off. However, his regular on-screen appearances have left some NHS colleagues furious, accusing him of enjoying “full pay” while they struggle to cover his workload. One insider said staff had been left to “pick up the pieces”. They told the Daily Mail: “We’re all under massive pressure at work – we’ve hardly got any staff and we’re doing everything we can to keep things going.

“We get home after a long day, put the telly on and there he is, laughing and joking on Gogglebox. He’s basically sat there with two fingers up at us while we’re picking up the pieces.”

The father-of-three joined the Channel 4 show alongside sons Baasit, Umar and Raza and is thought to earn around £4,500 a year for taking part. Each family receives roughly £1,500 a month, meaning households can pocket as much as £18,000 a year.

Despite the backlash, sources close to Sid insist he has followed every rule: “He has done all the appropriate checks with his employer and his doctor.

“They have both signed him off and agreed that whilst he’s off he can continue to film the show. From their point of view Gogglebox is not related to his job.

“It’s not in his work environment and it’s not during normal working hours. And it’s also good for his well-being.”

A recent study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found stress and mental-health issues remain among the top reasons for workplace absences.

The same analysis revealed UK employees are now taking an average 9.4 days off sick a year – the highest level since records began in 2010 – with mental health topping the list of long-term causes.

Sid has continued to promote the show on social media, recently posting a cheerful clip to fans alongside his cat Rocky: “Hi everyone – it’s Friday and it’s Gogglebox tonight. Nine o’clock, Channel 4.

“You’ll see me and him – and a couple of other guys too. So give us a wave … see you, bye.”

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust declined to comment on “the personal circumstances of any individual employee”.

A spokesperson for Gogglebox said: “The welfare of our contributors is always of paramount importance. Whilst it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on individuals’ health conditions, we can confirm that all necessary medical and employment permissions were given, with full support, for Mr Siddiqui to continue filming the Gogglebox series.

“Any suggestion to the contrary is categorically untrue.”