Janey Godley's daughter says her mother is in the 'final beats of her life'

November 01, 2024
Janey Godley's daughter says her mother is in the 'final beats of her life'

Comedian Janey Godley is in the "final beats of her life", her daughter has said.

In a post on the 63-year-old's X account, BBC Radio Scotland presenter Ashley Storrie revealed that her mother had been awarded an honorary degree from the University Of Glasgow, which she said had "brought her so much joy" in her final days.

Godley has been tweeting regularly since she announced she was receiving end-of-life care after her terminal cancer spread, but appears to have not tweeted for five days before her daughter’s post.

The post read: "Thank you @UofGlasgow for bestowing upon my mum the honorary degree of doctor of the University of Glasgow.

"This has brought her so much joy in the final beats of her life. Janey is so honoured and I am so immensely proud of her. Congratulations doctor Godley."

Thank you @UofGlasgow for bestowing upon my mum the honorary degree of doctor of the University of Glasgow. This has brought her so much joy in the final beats of her life. Janey is so honoured, and I am so immensely proud of her. Congratulations Doctor Godley.

Ashley Storrie pic.twitter.com/3hrg80tp3M

— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) October 31, 2024

The Scottish comedian, who found fame with her dubbed parodies of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021, but was given the all-clear in 2022 after a scan showed "no evidence of disease".

However, she later announced that another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen but added that she would continue touring.

Last month, she cancelled her forthcoming tour this autumn due to her stage four ovarian cancer, which had been kept at bay through NHS treatment over the last few years and had returned with a few added complications.

Announcing that she would be getting palliative care and going into a hospice in a video shared to social media, Godley thanked the NHS and those who have cared for her as well as her family, friends and fans for their support.

In the video, she said "the chemo ran out of options" and that she "just couldn’t take any more of it" after the cancer spread.

She went on to say she was "getting to near the end of it" and that "it’s really difficult to speak about this and say to people".

I'm now at end of life care - palliative care-and will be going into a hospice for the foreseeable - thanks to everyone who sends me love and support- you’ve been amazing pic.twitter.com/6JZ6cwTFk2

— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) September 25, 2024

Born in poverty in Glasgow in 1961, Godley went on to become a regular co-presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, as well as fronting BBC Radio 4 series The C Bomb.

The comedian was photographed at Turnberry golf resort with her "unwelcome" sign for Donald Trump in 2016.

In 2023, Godley became the winner of the inaugural Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

Her daughter has also worked as a stand-up comedian and stars in the BBC Three television series Dinosaur, which she also co-created.