Comedian Janey Godley

Janey Godley dies in hospice 'surrounded by loved ones', management confirms

by · Daily Record

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Janey Godley has died following a courageous battle with cancer, her manager has confirmed. The much-loved comedian has spent the last few weeks in a hospice surrounded by her loved ones and today it was announced she had sadly passed away.

The 63-year-old had faced a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer since 2021 before she made the devastating announcement the disease had spread. In a statement, her manager Chris Davis said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our client Doctor Janey Godley on 2nd November.

"Janey died peacefully in the wonderful Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow surrounded by her loved ones. She will be hugely missed by her family, friends and her many fans.

"She will be remembered for her legendary voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic, her hilarious and outspoken comedy, but most of all for just being ‘Janey’.”

Nicola Sturgeon speaking to Janey Godley at Aye Write book festival 2023 (Image: Robert Perry/PA Wire)

Godley revealed in September she had been receiving palliative care in a hospice. In November 2021, Janey first announced she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after doctors found a tumour on her ovary following a period of suffering stomach and back pains, a bloated tummy, loss of appetite, and frequent urination.

After undergoing a hysterectomy, she also underwent chemotherapy, and during that time she shared a poignant image of her husband shaving off her long curly locks before 'chemo took it from her'. After successfully finishing the treatment, Janey was given the all-clear but then she tragically faced a setback when further scans indicated the return of the disease within her abdomen.

The comic began raising money for Beatson Cancer Charity by arranging Soup Pot Tours and raised over £42,000. She later shared with fans the tickets alone raised £39,037.58, with a collection raising an extra £2,693.95 and Merchandise raising £1,211.85.

Janey Godley latest news

Janey told her followers: "You all raised £42 GRAND for @Beatson_Charity I want to thank everyone who performed, attended, bought my Beatson merch from my site & filled @Beatson_Charity buckets at The Kings Theatre shows back in March -We raised £42,943.38. Thanks @GlasgowComedy My agent @ChrisDavisMg.

She added: "Thankfully I didn’t do the show I was too exhausted- all my comedy friends did the shows for me and all my profits went to @Beatson_Charity."

She continued to work as she entered 2024, performing dates across the country in towns and cities including Bristol, Epsom, Norwich and Milton Keynes as part of her Not Dead Yet tour. But in September 2024, Janey was forced to cancel her Why Is She Still Here? tour after contracting sepsis.

Just one week later, the star told social media followers she was receiving “end-of-life” care after her cancer had spread, and she would be moving into a hospice.

Janey went viral with her sign outside Turnberry (Image: Twitter)

After stating she could no longer go through chemotherapy, Godley said the “devastating news” was difficult to speak about. She explained: “The chemo ran out of options, and I couldn’t take anymore of it. The cancer has spread, so it looks like this will be getting to near the end of it, and it’s really difficult to speak about this and say it to people.

“It is devastating news, to know that I’m facing end of life but we all come to an end some time.”

She added: “I don’t know how long I’ve got left before anybody asks, I’m not a tick tock, I just want you all to know that I appreciate all the love you’ve gave me. Cancer affects one in two people and it’s affected me.”

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Janey is survived by her husband Sean and her daughter Ashley.

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