Gogglebox star, 80, is on the hit Channel 4 show while signed off with stress from his £62,000-a-year NHS job

A Gogglebox star appears on the Channel 4 show as she quits her day job in the NHS due to stress.

Sid Siddiqui, 80, continued to appear in the fly-on-the-wall series while he was away from his taxpayer-funded job as the healthcare environmental manager, where he is understood to be working three days a week.

The role pays full-time salaries ranging from £55,690 to £62,682, meaning they will earn around £35,000.

Mr Siddiqui, who has been a regular on the reality TV show since 2013, has been on leave since July on mental health grounds from Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, which is said to have allowed him to appear on the show when he was not at work.

A recent study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that mental health and stress were among the top reasons cited by employees for sick leave.

It is understood Mr Siddiqui’s recent appearance on national television has caused disappointment among some NHS colleagues.

A trust insider claimed Mr Siddiqui was home “on full pay” and staff were left “to pick up the pieces”.

They said: ‘We are all under huge pressure at work; We have almost no staff and are doing everything we can to keep things going.

‘We come home after a long day, turn on the TV and there he is, laughing and joking on Gogglebox.

A tweet by the NHS charity featuring the Gogglebox star quitting due to the stress of the role

‘He basically sat towards us with two fingers up while we were picking up the pieces.’

Sources close to Mr Siddiqui insist he did everything by the book.

He is said to have sought and received permission from both his doctor and employer to continue filming Gogglebox while he was off work.

Both are said to have confirmed there was no conflict as the series had nothing to do with his role in the NHS, was filmed out of hours and was good for his mental health.

A source added: ‘He has had all the necessary checks with his employer and doctor.

‘They both got his permission and agreed that he could continue filming the show while he was away.

‘From their perspective, Gogglebox has nothing to do with his business. Not in a work environment and not during normal working hours. Besides, it’s good for his well-being.’

This comes at a time when workers are now taking almost two weeks of sick leave each year, according to the latest analysis from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Employees spent an average of a record 9.4 days on sick leave in the last 12 months, with mental health being one of the top concerns.

This represents a sharp increase from 7.8 days in 2023, when the survey was last conducted. This was also the highest level since the CIPD survey began in 2010.

The CIPD report found that the most common reason for short-term absences was minor illnesses, with mental health coming in second.

And the ‘by far’ biggest reason for long-term absence was mental health, often resulting in absence from work for four weeks or more.

Derby-based Mr Siddiqui first appeared on the show in 2013 and has been actively promoting Gogglebox on social media in recent weeks

Derby-based Mr Siddiqui, who first appeared on the show with his sons Baasit, Umar and Raza in 2013, is thought to be paid £4,500 a year for Gogglebox

Derby-based Mr Siddiqui, who first appeared on the show with his sons Baasit, Umar and Raza in 2013, is thought to pay £4,500 a year for Gogglebox.

Each sofa costs £1,500 a month; so a household can earn £18,000 a year.

Siddiqui has been actively promoting Gogglebox on social media in recent weeks, and last month he gleefully told fans: ‘Guess what, guys? Gogglebox is back!’

In a clip posted on Instagram ahead of the September 19 episode, the grandfather appeared in front of the camera with his cat Rocky, encouraging viewers to tune in.

‘Hello everyone – it’s Friday and tonight is on Gogglebox,’ he said. “Nine o’clock, Channel 4. You’ll see me and him and a few other guys.”

‘Then give us a wave. We’ll probably wave to you too. Enjoy the hour tonight. See you later. Goodbye.’

Gogglebox participants are usually filmed twice throughout the week before each broadcast and their reactions to the latest programs and current events are recorded.

In the latest episode, aired on October 3, Mr Siddiqui was seen making jokes about BBC’s Dragons’ Den:

He told his sons: ‘I would make a good Dragon, but I won’t have any money.

‘Oh, I love your idea, but I’m sorry I don’t have anything to give you.’

He was also observed reacting to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to introduce mandatory digital ID.

When Baasit comments: ‘I’m surprised this is a digital idea and not just a knock on the ass’, Mr Siddiqui jokes: ‘This too will happen.’

An Instagram clip posted on Tuesday to promote an upcoming episode showed Mr Siddiqui waving to the camera and his son Baasit telling his followers how filming ended.

Colleagues say his recent television appearances have sparked anger among NHS staff.

An insider said: ‘We were told everything was agreed and he was allowed to do the show.

‘They said they could not discuss which disease he had and that all procedures were followed. To me, that’s not the point. This isn’t about his illness; It’s still about what it looks like for those of us who work here.

‘He’s sitting on the couch on full salary while we’re at work. What will this look like when your colleagues are working their butts off?

‘Everything looks bad. Even management admitted they could see how this could be perceived, but said they still accepted it.’

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Siddiqui’s role includes reducing the NHS Trust’s carbon footprint and implementing sustainability measures at sites serving more than a million people in Derbyshire.

Band 8a salary is said to range from £55,690 to £62,682.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We are unable to comment on the personal circumstances of any employee.’

A Gogglebox spokesperson said: ‘The welfare of our contributors is always of the utmost importance.

‘Whilst it is not appropriate to comment on individuals’ medical conditions, we can confirm that Mr Siddiqui has been granted all necessary medical and employment clearances with full support to continue filming the series Gogglebox. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue.’