Janey Godley, who passed away at the age of 63, transformed her challenging early life into a thriving career in comedy. Her upbringing in Glasgow’s east end heavily influenced her comedic style, which often drew humor from even the darkest subjects. With a blend of anger and sentimentality, her performance resonated with her audience, who saw her as one of their own. As her fame expanded, so did her impact; she became friends with former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after her viral videos parodying Sturgeon’s Covid press conferences gained widespread attention.

Born Jane Godley Currie on January 20, 1961, in Shettleston, Glasgow, she was the youngest of four children raised in a turbulent and impoverished home marked by parental alcohol addiction. Tragically, as a child, she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of an uncle. In 1996, she and her sister publicly shared their experiences to help convict their abuser, David Percy, who received a two-year prison sentence. Reflecting on this period, Godley remarked on the long struggle with guilt faced by abuse survivors.

Tragedy struck again when her mother Annie was discovered dead in the River Clyde in 1982. Godley suspected foul play by her mother’s violent partner; however, no charges were ever filed despite the family’s appeals for justice. At this time, she was married and co-managing a pub in Calton with her husband. Their daughter Ashley Storrie later pursued a career in comedy as well.

Godley’s comedic material often drew from her family’s criminal history and personal life events. A significant family dispute led to them leaving their pub and ultimately becoming homeless. This pushed Godley to take comedy more seriously after performing at open-mic nights. Her experiences behind the bar allowed her to refine her comedic delivery, quickly earning her recognition in comedy circles.

Known for tackling tough subjects like murder and abuse head-on, Godley faced criticism from some within the comedy community for discussing such topics but felt it was important to share these stories. Her success led to writing a memoir and novel while appearing on various panel shows alongside notable figures like Billy Connolly.

She gained international attention for two major incidents: a protest against Donald Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in 2016 and creating humorous voiceovers for Sturgeon’s briefings during lockdowns. A strong advocate for Scottish independence, she had previously shared stages with prominent political figures but faced backlash over past social media comments that resulted in losing a government campaign role.

In late 2021, Godley revealed she was battling ovarian cancer and documented her journey through treatment while continuing to work. Despite being told she might not have long to live when cancer returned in December 2022, she remained active in her career. In April 2023, she received the inaugural Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award and expressed disbelief at winning an accolade from someone she admired since childhood before ultimately succumbing to illness surrounded by loved ones.