Scottish comedian Janey Godley dies aged 63 | Ents & Arts News

Scottish comic Janey Godley has died a month after she moved to a hospice for end-of-life care, her agent has stated.

The 63-year-old, who discovered viral fame along with her dubbed imitations of Nicola Sturgeon’s COVID-19 information briefings through the pandemic, had introduced final month that she was receiving end-of-life look after terminal most cancers.

“It’s with nice unhappiness that we announce the demise of our consumer Physician Janey Godley on 2nd November,” her agent stated on Saturday.

“Janey died peacefully within the great Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow surrounded by her family members. She can be vastly missed by her household, pals and her many followers.

“She can be remembered for her legendary voice overs of Nicola Sturgeon through the pandemic, her hilarious and outspoken comedy, however most of all for simply being ‘Janey’.”

‘We bought her longer due to all of the assist’

Her daughter comic Ashley Storrie introduced the information on social media, writing: “We bought her longer due to all the assist and the love on the earth.”

She stated in a brief video: “I consider in my coronary heart of hearts that she felt each bit of affection you despatched to her. And I feel it saved her going.

“I feel genuinely we bought her longer due to all the assist and the love on the earth. However that is it over now. So, thanks as soon as once more and bye.”

Ms Sturgeon, the previous first minister, wrote on X: “Janey Godley really was a drive of nature, and one of many funniest folks I’ve ever recognized.

“I used to be in a position to go to her within the hospice a few weeks in the past and although she was fragile, she nonetheless had me in stitches.”

She added: “A bond was cast between us within the darkest days of COVID when her well-known voiceovers of my day by day briefings went viral. Within the hardest of occasions, she made folks snort – and that was valuable.

She did extra that (sic) that although. In managing to mission the intense public well being messages of my briefings to a a lot wider viewers than I’d have managed alone, she helped save lives.”

Paying tribute, Scottish First Minister John Swinney wrote on X: “Very sorry to listen to of the demise of Janey Godley.

“She introduced pleasure and laughter on many events after we wanted it most. My condolences to her household. Could she Relaxation in Peace.”

Different stars to pay tribute embrace comic Dom Joly, former Communards member and broadcaster the Reverend Richard Coles and TV chef Nigella Lawson.

That notorious Trump signal

In September, Godley cancelled her autumn tour titled Why Is She Nonetheless Right here? because of her stage 4 ovarian most cancers, which had been handled over the previous few years, however had returned with added issues.

On the time, Godley stated it was “devastating” to be dealing with the top of her life, including “however all of us come to an finish someday”.

She additionally joked: “I do not understand how lengthy I’ve bought left earlier than anyone asks. I am not a TikTok.”

In 2016, Godley went viral after protesting at Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort along with her notorious “unwelcome” signal (Godley’s signal used barely spicier language).

She then went on to realize consideration throughout COVID occasions, voicing movies of Ms Sturgeon’s well being briefings and have become pals with the previous first minister.

Overcoming adversity

Born into poverty within the East Finish of Glasgow in 1961 to alcoholic dad and mom, Godley left college aged 16 with no {qualifications}.

She revealed each she and her sister had been abused by an uncle as a baby, for which he served a two-year sentence.

After 15 years working a pub along with her husband through the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, she started her stand-up profession in 1994, happening to co-present BBC Radio 4’s Unfastened Ends, in addition to fronting BBC Radio 4 collection The C Bomb.

She additionally appeared on exhibits together with Have I Obtained Information For You, the Scottish cleaning soap opera River Metropolis, and crime drama Traces.

Godley wrote her debut novel in 2022, a homicide thriller titled Nothing Left Unsaid set in Seventies Glasgow. Warmly acquired, celeb followers included Nigella Lawson who stated it was so good, she learn it in two sittings.

By no means shying away from joking in regards to the darker aspect of life, in 2023, she gained the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award on the Glasgow Worldwide Comedy Competition.

Godley had been awarded an honorary diploma from the College Of Glasgow simply days earlier than her demise.

A fierce supporter of Scottish independence, Godley was additionally a vocal advocate of transgender rights, she continued campaigning on behalf of the LGBTQ+ group up till her demise.

She leaves behind her husband of 44 years, Sean Storrie, and her daughter.