Janey Godley, the beloved Scottish comedian, has passed away at the age of 63 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She spent her last moments in a hospice, having previously shared that her chemotherapy options had diminished and her condition had worsened. Her passing on November 2nd was confirmed by her manager, noting she died peacefully surrounded by family. Known for her humorous voiceovers during the pandemic, Godley received tributes from friends and colleagues, including former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who praised her as a remarkable talent who brought laughter in difficult times.
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Janey Godley, la célèbre humoriste écossaise, est décédée à l’âge de 63 ans après un courageux combat contre un cancer de l’ovaire. Elle a passé ses derniers instants dans un hospice, ayant précédemment déclaré que ses options de chimiothérapie avaient diminué et que son état s’était aggravé. Son décès, survenu le 2 novembre, a été confirmé par son manager, notant qu’elle est morte paisiblement entourée de sa famille. Connue pour ses amusantes voix off pendant la pandémie, Godley a reçu des hommages de la part d’amis et de collègues, dont l’ancienne Première ministre Nicola Sturgeon, qui a loué son talent remarquable qui a apporté du rire en des temps difficiles.
Janey Godley, the beloved comedian, has passed away at the age of 63 after a valiant battle against ovarian cancer.
The Scottish comic spent her final days in a hospice, having shared in September that she was receiving end-of-life care.
At that time, she expressed, « The chemotherapy ran out of options, and I just couldn’t endure any more; the cancer has progressed. » She acknowledged the difficulty of discussing her condition with others.
Just weeks later, Janey, hailing from Glasgow, passed away with her friends and family by her side.
In a statement, her manager, Chris Davis, shared, « It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our client, Dr. Janey Godley, on November 2nd. Janey died peacefully at the esteemed Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, surrounded by her loved ones. »
« Her absence will be deeply felt by her family, friends, and fans. Janey will be remembered for her legendary voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic, her sharp and outspoken comedy, and most importantly, for just being ‘Janey.’
Janey had revealed in September that she was receiving palliative care in the hospice. Her heartbroken daughter, TV personality Ashley Storrie, took to social media to honor her beloved mother.
She wrote, « Earlier this morning, Janey passed away in her sleep, with her family by her side. The love and support from her friends and fans throughout this cancer journey brought her significant joy. It has also provided great comfort to us, her family, and close friends. Thank you. »
Ms. Sturgeon was among the first to pay tribute to the stand-up comic, describing her as a « force of nature. » The former First Minister stated, « Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear this morning that Janey has died. She was incredibly funny, and I was lucky to visit her in hospice a few weeks ago; despite her fragility, she made me laugh. »
« Janey’s kindness and ability to uplift others made the world a better place. During the darkest days of Covid, her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral, helping to convey serious public health messages to a broader audience and potentially saving lives. »
« The attached photos are from a special event we had last year. I was proud to call Janey a friend, and I will miss her immensely. My thoughts are with her family and friends today. I know Frank will have been there, holding the door open for her as she left, with tears in his eyes, as I have in mine. Rest in peace, my friend. »
Numerous showbiz friends visited to comfort the late comedian in her last days. Elaine C. Smith, known for her role in « Two Doors Down, » paid a visit with a beautiful bouquet and lovely gifts, including a candle stating, « You are beautiful inside and out. »
Janey also received a call from her comedy idol, Sir Billy Connolly, who lightened her spirits with his trademark humor.
A friend of Connolly’s mentioned, « Billy learned about Janey’s situation and simply wanted to call her. I’m delighted that his call seemed to uplift her spirits. »
Many celebrities took to social media to convey their condolences to Janey’s devastated family. Former Labour spin doctor and TV host Alastair Campbell remarked, « This is very sad, although we all anticipated it. » First Minister John Swinney added, « She brought joy and laughter when we needed it most. My condolences to her family. » Musician Midge Ure stated, « Gone but never forgotten; what a fighter. »
Janey amused countless people during lockdown, creating a series of viral videos poking fun at Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus updates. She enjoyed a close friendship with the former First Minister, who frequently sent supportive messages amid Janey’s health struggles.
In addition to her online success, she also starred in the Scottish soap « River City » and appeared on the BBC’s « Have I Got News For You. » Born into poverty in Glasgow in 1961, Godley became a co-presenter on BBC Radio 4’s « Loose Ends » and hosted the series « The C Bomb. »
The comedian famously protested Donald Trump at the Turnberry golf resort in 2016 with her ‘unwelcome’ sign. In 2023, Godley was honored with the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
However, in September, she was forced to cancel her planned tour due to a sudden