The Siddiquis, beloved by many on Gogglebox, have been gracing our screens with their shrewd and often hilarious insights since 2013. Broadcasted every Friday on , they're among the longest-standing families to feature on the show.

Based in Derby, Sid, the family head, and his sons Raza, Umar, and Baasit lead ordinary lives when not in the spotlight.

Sid, a retired engineer, enjoys his downtime alongside Raza, who's carving out a career in hospitality management; Umar, who works as a microbiologist; and Baasit, who balances being an IT teacher with his television commitments. February 2025 marked Sid's 80th birthday, a joyous event the family celebrated and shared with their online followers, complete with a special lunch and a homemade cake whipped up by brother-in-law Simon.

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Their unexpected journey on Gogglebox began rather humbly. Sid confessed that they did not anticipate staying on the show for more than a year.

It was Baasit's chance encounter with an old friend working on the pilot episode that led them to the small screen, reports .

Umar recounted to Radio Times their unique audition process: "We did a bit of an audition, where people came round with a camera and some flash cards – images of , Simon Cowell... and they said, 'Right, just say the first thing that comes into your mind'. Whatever dynamic we had seemed to suit the show, because they asked us if we wanted to be part of it. And they've kept on asking us."

Currently, while Gogglebox is on air, the trio—Sid, Baasit, and Umar—commit roughly six hours twice a week to film with the crew, all the while their partners and children opt to remain off-screen.

Despite being mainstays on their popular television show for ages, the Siddiquis have remarkably maintained their regular careers and everyday routines.

Sid opened up about how the show has impacted their lives: "Honestly, I don't think I can say it has changed my life vastly," he said. "As far as our lifestyles are concerned, it's still the same way. We were a close-knit family and that we remain... If anything, we've probably consolidated that because of the show."

Baasit, on the other hand, has gained a newfound sense of self-assurance from the experience, enough to venture into entrepreneurship after leaving a teaching career of many years.

Although the Siddiquis' significant others are often the subject of their on-screen banter, they've never actually appeared on the programme.

Family matriarch Nasreen, in a chat with the Daily Mail, ruled out any possibility of joining her boys on-screen, citing language barriers and personal reservations: "It's not something for me, I don't speak very good English and I'm very shy. It's best left to the boys. You won't get me on the TV," she remarked.

In the Siddiqui household, Baasit juggles fame with family life, having been married to Melissa since 2014 and fathering two kids—Amelia and Theodore. Sid has had an enduring partnership, too, being married to Nasreen for four decades with whom he shares two daughters in addition to the three sons who appear on TV.

As for Umar, in 2023, he was embracing the single life.

Gogglebox airs on Fridays on Channel 4 at 9pm