Sam Nicoresti’s Historic Edinburgh Comedy Award Win: A Triumph for ‘Baby Doomer’ and British Comedy

Sam Nicoresti’s Historic Edinburgh Comedy Award Win

In a moment that will be remembered as a landmark in British comedy, Sam Nicoresti has won the prestigious Taffner Family Best Comedy Show prize at the 45th Edinburgh Comedy Awards for their masterful show, Baby Doomer. Affectionately known as the "Oscars of Comedy," this award has been the definitive launchpad for generations of comedic talent since its inception in 1981, making household names of countless performers. Nicoresti’s victory is not only a testament to an exceptionally crafted hour of stand-up but also a historic milestone, as they become the first transgender comedian to take home the main prize.

The win, which follows Jordan Gray’s significant nomination in 2022, signals a pivotal moment for representation at the highest echelons of the industry. Critically lauded as a show that explores life as a trans woman with profound humour and humanity,

Baby Doomer has been celebrated by critics and the judging panel alike. This victory is more than a personal triumph; it is a defining cultural event. As Awards Director Nica Burns declared, the 2025 winners "capture the spirit of comedy right now: bold, brilliant, and deeply connected to audiences". Nicoresti’s win powerfully affirms that the trans experience, as articulated through their unique and hilarious lens, is not on the periphery of the Fringe, but is central to the contemporary British comedy zeitgeist.

Sam beat a whole host of amazing comedians including Ed Night and John Tothill who have both performed frequently at Comedy in Your Eye. CIYE favourites Roger O'Sullivan and Toussaint Douglass were also nominated for the Best Newcomer Award but lost out to Ayoade Bamgboye.

Deconstructing ‘Baby Doomer’ – The Anatomy of an Award-Winning Hour

The artistic brilliance of Baby Doomer lies in its ingenious structure, using a moment of low-stakes, high-farce humiliation as a gateway to exploring deeply personal and complex themes. The show’s narrative is anchored by a "humiliating experience in a department store changing room"—specifically, a TK Maxx—where Nicoresti, after being misgendered by a shop assistant, gets inextricably stuck in a dress. This relatable, pressure-cooker scenario becomes the Trojan horse through which the show delivers its profound commentary on identity, mental health, and resilience, making universal truths out of a uniquely specific experience.

From this central premise, Nicoresti masterfully weaves a rich tapestry of interwoven themes, all handled with what critics have called "grace and buoyant humour". The core of the show is, of course, the gender transition journey, exploring the practical and emotional realities of being a trans woman in 21st-century Britain. This is explored through sharp observations on everything from navigating family dynamics—posing the question "aunt Sam or uncle Sam?"—to the deeply personal decision of whether to freeze sperm before starting hormones, a consideration that gives the show its poignant title. Yet, the show is far more than a single narrative. It bravely delves into Nicoresti’s struggles with mental health, PTSD, and autism, framed as a journey of "losing your mind and finding it again". This is complemented by a surprising and delightful embrace of surrealism and folklore, with tales of visiting the Mên-an-Tol standing stones in Cornwall and the on-stage ritual of ceremonially burning written trauma, adding a layer of transcendental depth to the comedy.

What elevates this material to award-winning status is the sheer comedic craft on display. This is a joke-dense hour with a "sky-high joke count" and a "scorching pace" that far exceeds the tired "laugh a minute" benchmark. Nicoresti’s style blends an "obsessive neuroticism and lyrical phrasing with a surrealist instinct," a combination that proves irresistible. Their proud nerdiness shines through in frequent Lord of the Rings references, including a particularly inspired comparison of the trans experience to that of Sméagol/Gollum, a bit that has fellow geeks roaring with laughter. The show’s overall tone is one of "self-deprecating joyfulness," finding "levity and joy in the deep and difficult" without a hint of self-pity. Many critics have noted that Baby Doomer represents a calculated and successful pivot towards a more mainstream stand-up style compared to Nicoresti's earlier, more "quirky multimedia" work like Cancel Anti Wokeflake Snow Culture. This strategic shift proves that comedy centred on marginalised experiences can achieve the highest level of mainstream acclaim without diluting its unique voice, effectively redefining the boundaries of what mainstream comedy can be.

"One Hell of a Punchline" – The Story Behind the Win

The story of the win itself is as compelling as the show, perfectly encapsulated in Nicoresti’s witty and emotional acceptance speech. They immediately won over the room of industry figures and fellow comedians with a personal anecdote: "A year ago, my girlfriend asked me to marry her. We were talking about how we're going to pay for the wedding. I joked that I should just win the Edinburgh Comedy Award… I've got to hand it to you, this is one hell of a punchline". This charming story was followed by heartfelt thanks to their team, including first-time director David Hardcastle, who "knocked it out of the park," and their partner Becky, for "loving me and giving me a sort of an idea for a show".

In a moment that powerfully illustrates the dual reality of life as a Fringe performer, Nicoresti also gave a crucial thanks to the Keep It Fringe funds, "without which I wouldn't have been able to pay for my shitty little one-bedroom flat". This juxtaposition of a joyful, life-changing event like a wedding with the stark financial precarity faced by artists perfectly captures the Fringe experience, where career-defining artistic achievement is often inseparable from profound financial relief. Using their platform for advocacy, Nicoresti concluded their speech with the powerful declarations that "trans rights are human rights" and "Free Palestine".

The official verdict from the awards committee, whose panel and scouts viewed over 1,200 hours of comedy to reach their decision, was glowing. Nica Burns, the long-standing director of the awards, praised Baby Doomer as a "masterfully woven, polished and delightfully human show" that is "packed with relatable set pieces that linger long after". She hailed Nicoresti as a "fresh, bright voice that we need in 2025," cementing their status as a vital and essential new force in British comedy.

The Hotly-Contested Shortlist – The Stars of 2025

Sam Nicoresti’s victory was secured from an exceptionally strong and eclectic shortlist, featuring performers from three different continents and shows that explored everything from familial grief and sexuality to the inner lives of pigeons. The nominees for both the Taffner Family Best Comedy Show and the DLT Entertainment Best Newcomer Award represent the absolute cutting edge of live comedy.

Taffner Family Best Comedy Show	DLT Entertainment Best Newcomer Award
Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer (Winner)	Ayoade Bamgboye: Swings and Roundabouts (Winner)
Dan Tiernan: All In	Ada and Bron: The Origin of Love
Ed Night: Your Old Mucker	Elouise Eftos: Australia's First Attractive Comedian
Ian Smith: Foot Spa Half Empty	Kate Owens: Cooking With Kathryn
John Tothill: This Must Be Heaven	Molly McGuinness: Slob
Katie Norris: Go West, Old Maid	Roger O'Sullivan: Fekken
Sam Jay: We The People	Toussaint Douglass: Accessible Pigeon Material
Creepy Boys: SLUGS

The ‘Comedy in Your Eye’ Connection

Here at Comedy in Your Eye, we have always prided ourselves on having our finger on the pulse of the UK comedy scene. We provide a stage for the most exciting up-and-coming voices long before they are making headlines in Edinburgh. That is why we were thrilled, but not surprised, to see several of this year's nominees on the shortlists. We have been privileged to host incredible performances from the future stars of comedy right here in our Camden home.

The ‘Eddie’ – 45 Years of Forging Comedy Legends

To fully appreciate the magnitude of Sam Nicoresti’s achievement, one must understand the history of the award itself. Established in 1981 as the Perrier Comedy Awards, the prize—popularly known as "the Eddie"—was created to discover and support the most outstanding young talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In the 45 years since, it has become the single most important career-making institution in British comedy.

The roll call of past winners and nominees is a veritable who’s who of comedy royalty. The inaugural prize was awarded to a Cambridge Footlights cast that included Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, and Hugh Laurie. They were followed by generations of icons who would go on to define British popular culture, including Frank Skinner, Steve Coogan, Lee Evans, Jenny Eclair, Dylan Moran, The League of Gentlemen, Al Murray, and Sarah Millican. The award has a proven history of spotting brilliance; its alumni have amassed hundreds of television writing, directing, and acting credits, fundamentally shaping the entertainment landscape.

By winning this award, Sam Nicoresti does not just receive a trophy and a £10,000 prize; they inherit a legacy. They are now placed in the same pantheon as these legendary figures, and the industry has officially positioned them as the next big thing. Their victory will serve as a new benchmark, expanding the definition of what a comedy award winner in the UK can be.

The Future of Comedy is Here

Sam Nicoresti’s historic Edinburgh Comedy Award win for Baby Doomer is a watershed moment. It is a triumph for a "masterfully woven" and riotously funny show, a historic first for a trans comedian, and a powerful statement about the "bold, brilliant" and deeply human direction of modern comedy. The strength and diversity of this year's shortlist is irrefutable proof that the future of British comedy is, as Nica Burns stated, in "excellent hands".

The Edinburgh Fringe remains the most thrilling place in the world to discover new talent, a crucible where the next generation of comedy legends are forged. But that future is not just being written in Scotland once a year. It is being written every week on stages in clubs across the country, where raw ideas are honed into award-winning routines. The future of comedy is here. Come and see the next Sam Nicoresti at Comedy in Your Eye before the rest of the world finds out.

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