PEOPLE WATCHING 
by SAM FENDER
People Watching, released 15 November 2024 is the lead single and title track from Sam Fender's third album People Watching, due in February 2025.
Speaking about the single, Fender explained that it was written about his close friend and mentor Annie Orwin, who for 17 years starred in Byker Grove - a coming of age drama centring on a Newcastle youth centre which ran from 1989-2006.
"People Watching is about somebody that was like a surrogate mother to me and passed away last November. I was by her side at the end, slept on a chair next to her. It’s about what was going through my head, to and from that place and home."
Adding: "It’s kind of ironic because she was the one that gave me the confidence to go on stage, and used to be like ‘why haven’t you mentioned my name in your acceptance speech’. But now an entire song (and album) connects to her. I hope she’s looking down saying ‘about time kid’.”
People Watching entered the Official Singles Chart at Number 4 on 22 November 2024, earning Sam Fender his highest chart debut to date.
In April 2025, Official Charts announced that People Watching was one of the UK's biggest songs of 2025 so far.
Music video
Chart history of PEOPLE WATCHING
 Official Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position4
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 1Top 10
 - 9Top 20
 - 16Top 40
 - 23Top 75
 - 30Top 100
 
Chart run
Buy
 Official Singles Chart Update
Chart facts
- Peak position4
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 2Top 10
 - 10Top 20
 - 15Top 40
 - 26Top 75
 - 36Top 100
 
Chart run
1 week - 01/06/2025
Buy
 Official Streaming Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position20
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 0Top 10
 - 1Top 20
 - 5Top 40
 - 24Top 75
 - 33Top 100
 
Chart run
1 week - 30/10/2025
Buy
 Official Video Streaming Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position78
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 0Top 10
 - 0Top 20
 - 0Top 40
 - 0Top 75
 - 1Top 100
 
Chart run
1 week - 13/03/2025
Buy
 Official Singles Sales Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position1
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 2No1
 - 10Top 10
 - 14Top 20
 - 25Top 40
 - 35Top 75
 - 43Top 100
 
Chart run
37 weeks - 28/11/2024 to 07/08/2025
1 week - 18/09/2025
Buy
 Official Singles Downloads Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position3
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 8Top 10
 - 14Top 20
 - 25Top 40
 - 35Top 75
 - 42Top 100
 
Chart run
35 weeks - 28/11/2024 to 24/07/2025
1 week - 07/08/2025
Buy
 Official Physical Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position1
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 2No1
 - 7Top 10
 - 9Top 20
 - 13Top 40
 - 19Top 75
 - 25Top 100
 
Chart run
1 week - 01/05/2025
1 week - 19/06/2025
1 week - 31/07/2025
1 week - 11/09/2025
1 week - 30/10/2025
Buy
 Official Vinyl Singles Chart
 Official Irish Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position25
 - LabelPOLYDOR
 - Catalogue numberGBUV72401938
 - First Chart Date
 
Weeks on chart
- 0No1
 - 0Top 10
 - 0Top 20
 - 2Top 40
 - 6Top 75
 - 6Top 100
 
Chart run
1 week - 06/02/2025
1 week - 30/10/2025
Buy
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