Sam Fender wins the 2025 Mercury Prize for his album People Watching

by · Mail Online

Sam Fender has won this year's Mercury Prize for his album People Watching.

The singer, 31, toom home the presitigous award at the ceremony in Newcastle on Thursday, the first time the ceremony has been held outside London.

The Mercury Prize is an annnual prize given to the best album released by a musical act from the UK or Ireland.

It was first held in 1992 as an alternative to the BRIT Awards and the winner receives a cash prize of £25,000. 

Sam's win came as a shock as Irish singer CMAT was the bookies' favourite ahead of the ceremony.

In his acceptance speech, Sam namechecked his fellow nominees and said: 'I just I really didn't – we did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you – I cannot think.' 

Sam Fender has won this year's Mercury Prize for his album People Watching
The singer, 31, toom home the presitigous award at the ceremony in Newcastle on Thursday, the first time the ceremony has been held outside London

He then grabbed his guitar and sang the title song from his album People Watching.

Backstage, he told the BBC: 'I didn't think that was going to happen at all. I've just spent the last 10 minutes crying.' 

He said winning in his native Newcastle was 'really, really important' because the music scene there has always 'been in an isolated bubble'.

The judges said Sam's album 'felt like a classic' and they loved its 'character and ambition'. 

The other short-listed albums for the 2025 prize were CMAT's Euro-Country, Emma-Jean Thackray for Weirdo, FKA Twigs for Eusexua, Fontaines D.C. for Romance, Jacob Allen for In Limerance and Joe Webb for Hamstrings & Hurricanes.

Also nominated were Martin Carthy for Transform Me Then Into A Fish, Pa Salieu for Afrikan Alien, PinkPantheress for Fancy That, Pulp for More and Wolf Alice for The Clearing.

Earlier this year, Sam's secret girlfriend of two years was revealed as actress Rosa Collier. 

Rosa works as an actress and they met when she was studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

In his acceptance speech, Sam namechecked his fellow nominees and said: 'I just I really didn't – we did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you – I cannot think'
Sam's win came as a shock as Irish singer CMAT was the bookies' favourite ahead of the ceremony
FKA Twigs was also nominated for her album Eusexua 
Emma-Jean Thackray was shortlisted for her album Weirdo

Confirming their relationship, a friend told The Sun: 'Sam is very much in love with Rosa and they have been secretly dating since 2022.

'They dated loosely for a few months and then things became way more serious in 2023. They've travelled quite a bit together and recently they went on a romantic holiday to the Maldives.

'They seem serious. She knows Sam's family and band well and is on tour with him now. 

'If his fans look closely, they'll see her cheering from the crowd. Rosa is always front and centre, supporting her man.' 

Merucy Prize 2025 shortlist

Sam Fender - People Watching (Winner)

CMAT - Euro-Country

Emma-Jean Thackray - Weirdo

FKA Twigs - Eusexu

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

Jacob Allen - In Limerance

Joe Webb - Hamstrings & Hurricanes

Martin Carthy - Transform Me Then Into A Fish

Pa Salieu - Afrikan Alien

PinkPantheress - Fancy That

Pulp - More

Wolf Alice - The Clearing