One pound fish man & You tube sensation Muhammad Shahid at Queens market

Exclusive video: ‘One Pound Fish’ turns Upton Park trader into internet hit

by Melissa York, Reporter Wednesday, May 23, 2012
4:00 PM

Upton Park trader Shahid Nazir performs his “One Pound Fish” song especially for the Recorder.

An Upton Park fishmonger has become a local superstar after his “One Pound Fish” song earned him over one million hits on YouTube.

Muhammad Shahid Nazir, 30, has been reeling in the customers in Queen’s Market by singing about his wares.

Within a month, visitors to the market began filming Shahid on their phones, travelling from as far away as Manchester and Newcastle to see him.

Now an internet sensation, Shahid has been inundated with media requests, approached by a record label, and Simon Cowell is even a fan.

Born in Pakistan, Shahid said: “I am trying to collect all of my pieces in the newspapers because I want to keep a record of it all.

“I did an interview for the BBC Asian Channel, and I gave an interview to BBC Radio the other day.

“Then the X Factor have been contacting me. They saw me sing on YouTube and asked me to audition.

“So I have been for two auditions and the final one is a video. And then if they like that, they will call me.”

Shahid was thrilled that popstar and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon sang her own version of the song while American boy band Mindless Behaviour attraced 90,000 hits with their cover.

He smiled and said: “Alesha Dixon sang my song - I am very proud. I love Alesha Dixona and I love my fish.”

This is just as well as the song seems to be doing wonders for sales on the stall which, for the time being, Shahid is continuing to work on - until his music career takes off.

As the Recorder arrived, Shahid was busy cutting up fish in another part of the market but, despite his absence from the stall, passersby were still pointing at the stall and calling “One Pound Fish!”

Embracing his newfound fame, Shahid announces his return to the stall with his arms thrown wide, singing “Come on ladies, come on ladies, one pound fish...”

He said: “Oh yes, we have have sold a lot of fish but I would love to sing.”

Fans can now follow Shahid on Twitter by searching for @RealOnePoundFish.