They’ve been part of Gogglebox’s furniture for a decade, but viewers know very little about their other halves.
The Siddiqui, who consist of sons Baasit 40, Umar, 45, and father Sid, 78, often talk about their loved ones but are yet to be seen on screen.
The Nasreen matriarch previously told the Daily Mail in a rare interview that she never considered participating in the show.
‘Oh no, it’s not something for me, I don’t speak English very well and I’m very shy.’
Before adding: ‘It’s better to leave it to the boys. You won’t put me on TV’.
Couch Surfers: The Saddiqui have been a part of Gogglebox’s furniture for a decade, but viewers know very little about their other halves (LR) Bassit, Umar, Sid
WHO? While they often talk about their loved ones, they have yet to be seen on screen.
Throwback: Youngest son Bassit works as a teacher and lives with his wife Melissa, whom he married in 2014, the proud husband has shared snaps of their big day and a glimpse into their family life.
On social media though, the trio do something and share rare family snaps from their shared Instagram account.
The youngest son, Bassit, works as a teacher and lives with his wife Melissa, whom he married in 2014. The proud husband has shared snapshots of his big day and a glimpse into his family life.
The couple share children, Amelia and Theodore, with the former making brief (and very cute) appearances on the show.
Meanwhile, patriarch Sid has been married to his wife Nasreen for 40 years and the couple also share two daughters and a third son, Raza.
Single Umar also works for the NHS as a biomedical scientist in microbiology. producing electronic music under the name Burk Hold Dear.
And while they are recognizable faces to many people across the UK, it’s only by chance that the family rose to fame.
The three men were asked by series creators Studio Lambert to appear after an old friend recalled an exchange between Sid and his children when the friend worked part-time at a video store years ago.
The youngest son, Baasit, was contacted by the friend who was in the pilot episode and asked if they would like to audition.
His brother Umar explained to the radio schedules: ‘We did a little audition, where people came with a camera and some flash cards, pictures of Boris Johnson, Simon Cowell… and they said, ‘Okay, just say the first thing that comes to mind.’
Family: The couple shares children Amelia and Theodore with the former after making brief (and very cute) appearances on the show.
Sweet: sometimes rare snapshots of the young family
Mother: Patriarch Sid meanwhile has been married to his wife Nasreen for 40 years and the couple also share two daughters and a third son Raza (far right)
“Whatever dynamic we had, it seemed to fit the show, because they asked us if we wanted to be a part of it. And they have kept asking us.
The trio now sits down for six hours twice a week to film with the producers while they watch TV shows.
While the rest of his family prefers to remain off camera, the third brother Raza, 49, sometimes appears.
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Umar said: ‘There are a few shows that we watch, about five or six.
‘What we do is very simple: it’s just guys talking on camera. The genius comes later, with the editing.
“Each part is like one long joke told by several different families. And then a family is given the task of making a joke.’
Hundreds of hours of footage of the show’s families scattered across the country is shot and then edited in a matter of days before the episode airs.
While the Siddiquis insist their reactions are completely natural, there have been allegations that the show’s stars receive training before watching the shows.
Now, Paige has given insight into how the show is filmed, describing it as a “pantomime.”
The TV star says families squeeze in to watch 15-minute clips from five different shows, but they have to watch them three times so the producers can film the perfect reaction.
Filming can take seven hours, with bosses hyping up juicy bits before they’re shown and chiming in to explain the shows’ synopsis if the cast hasn’t seen it.
How it works before the cameras start rolling, says Paige in an interview with Sun: ‘They wouldn’t tell you, ‘Say this word for word,’ but they do prepare you to say things and warn you about comments that won’t make it to the show,
Inside Scoop: It comes after former Gogglebox star Paige Deville spilled behind-the-scenes secrets about the hit Channel 4 show
Sad: Paige appeared on the show with her mother Sally, however they are no longer on speaking terms.
‘Sometimes they give you a ‘three, two, one’ countdown that prepares you and prepares you to react. It’s a bit of a behind-the-scenes pantomime, you have to understand that you’re a character on a show and you can’t be 100 percent authentic, otherwise everyone would be on their phones for half the show.
“They film it three times in case they miss a reaction and have different responses, sometimes it can be a bit like, ‘Okay, I’m watching it again,’ but it’s a job at the end of the day.”
Paige says that contracts usually start at £100 a day, but the show’s most popular stars can command higher salaries.
She adds that families don’t get together because it can cause tensions around payment.
While the producers don’t do anything in the living room setting, snacks seen on screen are rarely eaten due to continuity reasons, while cast members must sit in similar positions to assist bosses. when it comes to editing.
MailOnline contacted Channel 4 for comment.
The Gogglebox 10th Anniversary Special airs Saturday at 9:00pm on Channel 4.
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