First trans comedian to win Edinburgh comedy award

[Chersfrozenface]

Because of course he did.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgvz090195o

Note to MN and monitors. Nicoresti is described as a "trans woman", therefore biologically male, therefore "he" is factually correct.

I don’t think OP or anyone else on the thread is calling for venues to shun him, or protests or for him to be banned from the comedy circuit or anything else. We’re merely opining that he wouldn’t have won it if it wasn’t for the tired old “trans” v women schtick.

You agree that he shouldn’t call himself female? That’s what the post you’re quoting says.

Standard, as in woman are allowed the same right of an opinion as men?

The linked Reddit links to an article which says that he didn’t win it three years ago when he wasn’t identifying as a woman. Maybe his comedy has become so much fresher and more sparkling with his “transition”. Or maybe not.

What I didn't like was the quote from the winner (on the BBC news app at least) saying that it was great to be part of an "all female" line-up of winners.

This is what igloo said.

I agree.

How do they possibly know what gender(s) the all female line up identify as. Noone goes around with a clipboard asking people what they mostly identify as, so how can they possibly know. The hypocrisy in that statement is deafening.

It’s just standard trolling.

But IF (as it should be) that GC views are up for ridicule, then why isn't the same true for GI views?

If this has been a woman telling her story of the GI incursions they wouldn't have been booked for the fringe or even worse, would have been booked and then cancelled. As we know has happened.

My thought process about the OP and the following thread went like this -

'Comedy award won by transwoman. Eh.'

(After watching the video of his act). 'Ah, he's as funny as a cup of cold sick. The funniest out of thousands of acts? Really?'

Just as an aside for anyone not familiar with the Fringe, there were more than 3,000 shows this year, a large percentage of them comedy. The programme is a bit of a weighty tome.

'Ah, he's calling himself one of an all female line up. What a prick'

(After seeing the safari trophy toilet photo) 'ah, he's very open that he hates women and is going to gleefully crow that he likes violating women's boundaries'.

It's been a bit of a cumulative effect over the course of the thread and from the evidence from the man himself that I (and probably quite a few others) have moved from 'eh' to 'what a prick'.

His comedy reminds me of the old style 70s/80s stuff - Bernard manning type. Makes me sad that he's belittling women like that type of comedian used to.
He's also got a very long way to go to be even half as funny as Eddie Izzard was back in the day so Im not sure why his being allegedly trans-identified is such a thing when Eddie Izzard was an out transvestite (before a TRA gets offended, that is what he called himself at the time) literally decades ago and funny to boot.
But I suppose it's a good thing to have the undercurrent of misogyny on show, and I guess each to their own. And yes, at least this wasn't a women's award.

Yes it is sexist comedy. Not even good sexist comedy. Bernard Manning was a sexist in what he said. But he had good delivery and the jokes kept coming.

This won because the judges were trying to make a statement.

Feminists get to slag it off.
Other people then attack the feminists for having no sense of humour.
Thus the cycle repeats.

The whole gender wars thing is ripe for a lot of black comedy. We see a lot of this on mumsnet. Because men wearing dresses is very very funny in a way.

Good article on this.

A triumph for identity over talent at the Edinburgh Fringe
How did a painfully unfunny transgender comic take home the Best Comedy Show award?

https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/08/26/a-triumph-for-identity-over-talent-at-the-edinburgh-fringe/

I don't wish to be unkind, but he doesn't look remotely like a woman.

I'm assuming that's part of the act.

I don’t think it’s a requirement (not even to get a GRC). I imagine even the politicians who put the initial legislation in place knew that it would be physically impossible to make men look like women - hence why it’s just an admin process.

Identity politics is like an angry toddler with a hammer, it just breaks everything.

Forced laughter at a clown, but not a funny one.

My first thought in reading the title was: if the funniest comedian happens to be trans, they should win.

However, having seen the clip - if this is at all representative of their routine - then this person should not even be classified as a comedian, much less the funniest one at a comedy festival. This is a pure political rant with a couple of bad jokes woven in. Most professional politicians make better jokes.

Having watched the clips on Jean Hatchet’s thread I can confidently say:

This person is not funny
This person is a misogynist
This person is probably a big bandwagon jumper
He definitely doesn’t deserve any sort of comedy award

Someone mentioned Sophie Molly/Sparkles/fuck knows earlier in this thread. Here he is with his own safari trophy photo.

I suppose at least now they are openly saying that their aim is to destroy women's rights, though claiming sarcasm.

Two plus two is five, Winston...

This is the dying gasp of their movement as it crashes and burns. It's more unpopular year on year, as more people peak. Give it a few more years and these men won't dare set foot in any women's space.

I agree.

It's the die hard and weirdos having a last gasp.

It seemed to me that OP took issue with Sam winning because Sam is trans.

If the reason he won it is because he is trans, it's a fair response to be upset he won it. 99% of the time, if a trans person is nominated for an award, they win it. 99% of the time. Because being trans is celebrated, brave, powerful, etc. He was nominated because he's trans and it's the 'in' thing. He won because he's trans and it's the 'in' thing. Therefore his being trans is valid.

Put up 20 people for an award. 19 'cis' and one trans. We can both bet our houses and a year's salary on it that the trans person will win the award, no matter how much they deserve it. So if the reaction to his win seems anti-trans, perhaps it because his win is only based on him being trans and not on comedy and seems anti-women. That's why we're angry.

Well, that and the spiteful male pattern aggression of his pose in the ladies toilets with the award, giving women the finger. Proving it's all about trans and getting one over women.

If anyone wants to make up their own mind, there's a Fringe special in the half 6 slot on Radio 4 this evening featuring Nicoresti:

The prestigious Awards turns 45 this year and in this gala, hosted by 2024 Best Show winner Amy Gledhill, we hear from all of the Best Show nominees - plus the winner Sam Nicoresti.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hky8

Was that what was on last night as well @nauticant ? The screeching of the compere was unbearable and I must have somehow missed the funnies in the few minutes I heard of the performers.

Unfortunately at the moment these "best of the Fringe comedy" programmes are on every evening@PariahHeep.

Bloody hell @nauticant ,so many of the usual offerings were bad enough. R4 is just trolling its ever decreasing audience now.