It was a victorious night for North East musicians Sam Fender and Jade Thirlwall at the 2025 Brit Awards. Fender, who picked up best alternative/rock act, praised "all those at home in Shields" and added he was "no where near as drunk as last time".

Sam Fender has soared to the top of the U.K. Albums Chart with the biggest opening week for a British solo act since 2022 (Feb. 28). His third album, People Watching, took the No. 1 spot with 107,000 units across physicals and streaming.

Sam Fender has topped the UK charts with his third studio album. People Watching has been named the the biggest opening week for a British album since Harry's House by Harry Styles, the Official Charts company has said. It racked up 107,100 chart units in its first seven days.

While discourse on many topics grows toxic and polarised, it’s the voices who speak plainly about the reality of everyday lives that provide some sanity and make us feel heard. Enter Sam Fender, whose straight talking and pride of his working-class roots has seen him emerge as a figurehead for the younger generation,