Scottish comedian Janey Godley has died aged 63

Scottish comedian Janey Godley has died aged 63.

She has received palliative care after living for several years with ovarian cancer, which forced her to withdraw her ‘Why Is She Still Here?’ tour in September.

Ms Godley is perhaps best known for her viral video of Nicola Sturgeon’s Covid briefing during the pandemic and protests against Donald Trump’s 2016 visit to Scotland.

Her daughter Ashley Storrie thanked Ms Godley’s “found family” for their support “every day of this terrible day”.

In a video posted on social media, Ms Storrie said: “I want to talk face to face because I feel what I want.

“He passed away peacefully and I would like to thank all the staff at The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.”

Mentioning some of her loved ones, she said: “Thank you so much for being there and making it a very scary time and a great transition.”

He then addressed Ms Godley’s followers, thanking them for their kindness and support.

“I believe in my heart that he feels all the love you send him,” he said. “I think he’s moving on, actually we’re getting longer because of all the support and love in the world.”

He finished the video with “Bye Ma”, adding: “Frank, get the door” – a reference to Ms Godley’s famous voice overs of Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Godley’s manager Chris David said she would be “overwhelmed with her family, friends and many fans”.

He said: “She will be remembered for being Nicola Sturgeon’s legendary voice during the pandemic, her witty and blunt comedy, but most of all just being ‘Janey’.”

Ms Godley revealed she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2021.

He was given the all clear in 2022 but later scans found signs of the disease again.

Born in Glasgow’s east side in 1961, Godley was a pub host before establishing himself on the comedy circuit.

Ms Storrie, who followed her mother into comedy, starred in the BBC Three comedy Dinosaurs and was recently nominated for a Scottish Bafta award for the show.

Godley went viral in 2016 after he was pictured holding a placard with offensive words during a protest against Donald Trump during his visit to Scotland.

His profile was raised when he voiced Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish Covid briefing video. He later became friends with the former first minister.

Godley has also been a regular co-presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, as well as fronting the BBC Radio 4 series The C Bomb.

In 2023 he was awarded the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

She received an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow from her hospice bed earlier this week.

Posting on Instagram, Nicola Sturgeon said Ms Godley was “a true force of nature, and one of the funniest people I know”.

She said: “I was able to visit him at the hospice a few weeks ago and even though he was fragile, he still had stitches.

“Janey is also very kind. And she makes the world a better place.”

“In the most difficult of times, he makes people laugh – and it’s worth it.”

First Minister John Swinney also paid tribute to X, writing: “So sorry to hear of Janey Godley’s death.

“He brought joy and laughter on many occasions when we needed it most.”

Julia McKenzie, Radio 4’s commissioning editor of comedy, said Ms Godley was “a wonderful storyteller who embodies the stoic nature of Glasgow”.

He said, “His stories are raw and honest, devastating and exciting, often in the same sentence; and all shot with wit and ability to transform characters.

Louise Thornton, BBC Scotland’s head of commissioning, added that Ms Godley was a “much-loved contributor” to BBC programmes.

He added: “Janey has fought a brave health battle over the past few years and shares this emotional journey with her trademark honesty and humour.”