Imagine standing on stage, your heart pounding, knowing you only get one shot to make a first impression. That’s the pressure Ayoade Bamgboye faced before her debut at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite the stakes, she didn’t just survive—she soared, becoming the first Black woman to win the prestigious Best Newcomer Award. How did a relative comedy newcomer with a slim CV pull off such a feat? Let’s dive in.
Before her Edinburgh run, Bamgboye sought advice from fellow comedians on how to debut. Their guidance? ‘Introduce yourself, have a point of view, craft a narrative arc, and establish your comedic identity.’ Sounds straightforward, right? Wrong. For Bamgboye, it was overwhelming. ‘The idea that you only debut once was terrifying,’ she admits. ‘If it flops, you’re forever labeled a failure.’ But flop she did not. Instead, she arrived with Swings and Roundabouts, a show that not only defied expectations but also redefined what a debut could be.
Her win wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was historic. Following in the footsteps of comedy giants like Harry Hill, Sarah Millican, and Tim Minchin, Bamgboye’s victory felt like a seismic shift. ‘It changed my life,’ she says, almost reluctantly, as if acknowledging the cliché. But behind her words lies a deeper truth: this wasn’t just a career boost; it was a cultural moment. Yet, with success came self-doubt. ‘Why me? Why this? Why now?’ she questioned, grappling with the weight of her achievement.
What sets Bamgboye apart isn’t just her humor—it’s her intellect. A self-described ‘caretaker of words,’ she’s acutely aware of language’s nuances, often jotting down British idioms that sound foreign to her Nigerian-Londoner ears. This linguistic curiosity shines in Swings and Roundabouts, where she playfully dissects phrases that connote misery, blending anthropology with comedy. And this is the part most people miss: her cross-cultural identity isn’t a gimmick—it’s a superpower. She effortlessly shifts between a polished English accent and a Nigerian-inflected outsider perspective, creating a dynamic, unpredictable performance.
Her comedy is a reflection of her life: a woman raised as a ‘crown of joy’ (her name’s literal meaning) but navigating adulthood’s complexities, torn between continents and grieving her father’s loss. ‘I wanted to introduce myself and share how hard it is to be alive,’ she explains. But don’t call it ‘trauma comedy.’ That label oversimplifies the joyous, chaotic experience of her show. Instead, think of it as ‘controlled chaos’—a delicate balance between comfort and surprise. ‘I want audiences to feel safe yet unsure of what’s coming next,’ she says.
Her influences are as unique as her voice: Jack Black, Maya Rudolph, and Chris Morris—a trio no one saw coming. Bamgboye’s approach to comedy is equally unconventional. Before Edinburgh, she’d ‘never told the same joke twice,’ viewing repetition as an opportunity for reinvention. ‘If I’m performing the same material nightly, it has to stay exciting for me,’ she insists. And it did. Each performance felt fresh, fueled by the energy of the audience and the unpredictability of live interaction. ‘Every night was a new adventure,’ she recalls.
Since her win, Bamgboye’s perspective has shifted. ‘Now, it’s about putting the audience first,’ she says. Her enthusiasm is infectious as she describes her new set on small talk and her mentorship under comedians like Jamali Maddix and Lara Ricote. ‘My entire life feels like setup for jokes, and it makes me excited to live,’ she admits, before laughing and adding, ‘Maybe that’s too much.’ But is it? Her journey from drifting creative—including a stint as assistant to director Yorgos Lanthimos—to comedy’s rising star is nothing short of inspiring. ‘I feel like a guest in this industry who hasn’t even taken her shoes off yet,’ she says. ‘But I’m here for the long haul.’
Here’s the controversial question: Can Bamgboye’s success redefine what it means to be a comedian in an industry often resistant to change? And what does her historic win mean for underrepresented voices in comedy? Let’s discuss in the comments. One thing’s certain: Ayoade Bamgboye isn’t just a comedian—she’s a force, and her story is just beginning.
Catch Ayoade Bamgboye: Swings and Roundabouts at Soho Theatre, London, from 13-24 January and 20 April-2 May. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
