4 d. ago Edinburgh Comedy award winner Sam Nicoresti: ‘Actually, this whole show is a monumental failure!’

The comic was determined to make a blockbuster standup show that didn’t address trans issues. Then she changed her mind – and scooped comedy’s biggest prizeThere’s efficiency, then there’s the process that led to Sam Nicoresti winning the most prestigious award in live comedy. “A year ago my girlfriend asked me to marry her,” says Nicoresti on accepting the £10,000 prize last weekend. “[When] we were talking about how to pay for the wedding, I joked and said, ‘It’s easy, I’ll just win the Edinburgh comedy award’.” Can it be true? Is Nicoresti not only the first transgender winner of the so-called Oscars of comedy, but the first ever to manifest victory by force of strategic will?“It’s amazing what you can do,” she grins, three days after her triumph, “if you set your mind to something.” And that’s what Nicoresti has done in the last 12 months, turning around a niche career in alt-comedy, pointing it towards stardom, and pressing her pedal to the metal. Her winning show Baby Doomer w...

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8 d. ago Trans woman scoops award for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe

The show Baby Doomer explores life as a trans woman and won the Taffner Family best comedy show prize at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

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8 d. ago Show on life as trans woman scoops best comedy show award at Edinburgh Fringe

Sam Nicoresti’s Baby Doomer show won the Taffner Family best comedy show prize.

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8 d. ago Sam Nicoresti’s Baby Doomer wins best comedy show award at Edinburgh fringe 2025

Playful set about Nicoresti’s life as a trans woman wins main award, with Ayoade Bamgboye named best newcomerThe Edinburgh comedy award, the annual “Oscar of comedy” given to the best show at the fringe, has been won by Sam Nicoresti for Baby Doomer, which is based around a humiliating experience in a department store changing room.The Birmingham standup becomes the first transgender winner of the prestigious award after near-misses for Jordan Gray in 2022 – and Eddie Izzard 34 years ago. Nicoresti pockets £10,000 in prize money and, on accepting the award, joked they had promised their partner the win a year ago to help pay for their upcoming wedding. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago Edinburgh Fringe has become 'behemoth of industry', comedy award winner Sam Nicoresti says

Nicoresti said the Fringe had “changed fundamentally”

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1 week ago Edinburgh Comedy Award: Here are the 14 most famous winners in the prize's 45 year history

As we prepare to hear who as won ‘the comedy Oscars’ this year, we’re taking a look at the stars of the past.

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1 week ago Edinburgh Comedy Award 2025: Eligibility, prize money, judges, when are the shortlists and winners announced?

Happy 45th birthday to the Oscars of comedy.

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1 week ago Edinburgh Comedy Award 2025 Predictions: Here are 16 acts we're tipping to make the shortlists

It’ll soon be time to crown the king or queen of comedy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

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