An 80-year-old Gogglebox favourite has stunned fans by appearing on the hit Channel 4 show — even while officially signed off work from his £62,000-a-year NHS job due to stress.

Sid Siddiqui, a long-time cast member of the popular reality series, has continued to film cheerful living-room scenes despite being on leave from his taxpayer-funded role as an environmental manager with the Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust. It’s understood he usually worked three days a week, earning around £35,000 pro rata.

Mr Siddiqui, who has appeared on Gogglebox since 2013, has reportedly been on mental health leave since July, but insiders at the Trust claim his continued TV appearances have sparked anger among colleagues already under pressure.

“We’re all working flat out with barely any staff,” one source told the Daily Mail. “Then we go home, switch on the TV, and there he is — laughing and joking. It feels like he’s sitting there with two fingers up at us while we’re picking up the pieces.”

However, those close to Mr Siddiqui insist he has done everything “by the book.” Both his doctor and employer are said to have given full approval for him to continue filming, confirming that Gogglebox is unrelated to his NHS duties, filmed outside working hours, and even considered beneficial for his mental well-being.

A source explained:

“He followed every rule — his doctor and his employer both signed it off. They agreed it’s not part of his NHS role, it doesn’t clash with work time, and it actually helps his recovery.”

The debate comes amid new data from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showing that workers are taking record amounts of sick leave — averaging 9.4 days a year, with mental health now the leading cause of long-term absence.

Mr Siddiqui, based in Derby, joined Gogglebox in 2013 alongside his sons Baasit, Umar and Raza, reportedly earning about £4,500 a year for his appearances. He’s remained a fan favourite, regularly promoting the show on social media with cheerful clips featuring his pet cat, Rocky.

“Hi everyone, it’s Friday and it’s Gogglebox tonight — nine o’clock, Channel 4!” he told fans in a recent Instagram video. “You’ll see me, him, and a few others. Give us a wave!”

In the most recent episode, aired on October 3, Siddiqui was seen joking about Dragons’ Den and reacting to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s proposal for mandatory digital IDs.

Despite his upbeat presence on-screen, some NHS colleagues remain frustrated, arguing that the optics are “terrible.”

“It’s not about his illness,” one insider added. “It’s about how it looks to everyone else — we’re working our socks off while he’s on a sofa, on full pay. Even management admitted it doesn’t look great.”

According to LinkedIn, Siddiqui’s NHS role focuses on reducing the Trust’s carbon footprint and implementing sustainability initiatives across sites serving over one million people in Derbyshire. His salary reportedly falls under Band 8a, ranging from £55,690 to £62,682.

The NHS Trust declined to comment, stating:

“We’re unable to comment on the personal circumstances of any individual employee.”

Meanwhile, a Gogglebox spokesperson responded:

“The welfare of our contributors is always our top priority. While it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on personal health matters, all the required medical and employment permissions were granted for Mr Siddiqui to continue filming. Any suggestion otherwise is categorically untrue.”