First trans comedian makes history with Edinburgh Fringe award win
"I'm super excited and stoked and jazzed," said Sam Nicoresti in light of his show Baby Doomer winning the Taffner Family Best Comedy Show award
By Aaron Sugg
British comedian Sam Nicoresti has made history as the first transgender performer to win the Edinburgh Fringe‘s Best Comedy Show award.
Their award-winning show entitled, Baby Doomer, explores life as a trans woman going through a recent struggle with mental health and the journey of gender transition.
As well as winning the Taffner Family Best Comedy Show award, Nicoresti received the Best Newcomer along with a £10,000 prize.
“I did this for the queers making weird art” – Sam Nicoresti on winning the Edinburgh Fringe best new comer award
Reflecting on the achievement, according to the BBC, Nicoresti said: “Winning the award sure is swell, I’m super excited and stoked and jazzed. I did this for the queers making weird art, and it’s a privilege to share this moment with the first all female line-up of award winners.”
The win comes shortly after Nicoresti joined fellow comedian and Transaction actress Jordan Gray for SUGAR: The Trans Comedy Gala in June.
Meanwhile, Ayoade Bamgboye made history of her own by becoming the first black woman to win Best Newcomer for her show Swings and Roundabouts, which draws inspiration from her move to London from Nigeria.
The director of the comedy awards and West End theatre producer Nica Burns, said in a statement: “Sam Nicoresti’s Baby Doomer is a masterfully woven, polished and delightfully human show that captures an essential moment with, to paraphrase her words, laughs by the seconds.”
“Bold, brilliant and deeply connected to audiences” – Nica Burns on this year’s winners
This year marks the first time the Fringe has scrapped its annual funniest joke award, which had been a fixture for nearly two decades.
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards main prize, however, continues to recognise the best overall performance and routine each year. Established in 1981, the award has been credited with helping launch the careers of modern comedy greats such as Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan and Lee Evans.
The awards also presented the Victoria Wood gong, a panel prize for those who “embody the true spirit of the Fringe,” to Comedy Club 4 Kids this year.
Burns said about this year’s winners: “Our 2025 winners capture the spirit of comedy right now: bold, brilliant and deeply connected to audiences. In different ways, they’ve each created shows that feel utterly of this moment, sparking laughter while saying something lasting.
“Together, they remind us why the fringe matters, a place where the freshest voices can shine.”
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, continuing its long-standing tradition of celebrating comedic talent.