Janey Godley, no-nonsense Scottish comedian who drew on her dramatic life story – obituary
Janey Godley: Glasgow Comedian With Grit
“Attendees are here for a night of laughs, not a religious event,” Janey Godley remarked about her bold approach.
Janey Godley, who passed away at the age of 63, was a Scottish comedian known for her performances that reflected on her difficult upbringing, the loss of her mother, and more recently, her battle with terminal cancer.
Janey Godley was known for sharing her views openly and speaking her mind. She famously asserted, “People are here for a comedy show, not a religious meeting.” When she first debuted at 33, her presence on the comedy scene was considered unusual due to her age and gender.
Her initial work caught the eye of notable figures like Stewart Lee, who suggested she highlight her family background, seeing it as a unique element of her persona. She later took her performances to New York and New Zealand, where she received the nomination for "Best International Guest" from the New Zealand Comedy Guild four times.
While in Britain, she made appearances on shows like Just A Minute, Loose Ends, Breaking the News, and Have I Got News For You. Her bold and unfiltered style reminded many of Billy Connolly, though not everyone appreciated it; she remembered being advised to be "more gentle" and "less confrontational" during her performances, advice she chose to disregard. To underline her stance, she titled her memoir about her chaotic early years and her path into comedy The Woman Who Wouldn’t Shut Up.
Janey Godley, an early and avid user of Twitter (now known as X), achieved viral success with her posts, frequently targeting conservative politicians. In 2016, a photo of her protesting at Donald Trump’s golf resort, holding a sign that said "Donald Trump is a c—," caught the attention of various international news organizations and was later mentioned in a lyric by Dolly Parton.
When the world went into lockdown in early 2020, Janey Godley began mocking the Scottish government's handling of the Covid crisis. She provided humorous voiceovers for news clips, creating a fictional inner dialogue for Nicola Sturgeon that was often too risqué for family publications. Even Sturgeon admitted to enjoying Godley's work, leading to her being recruited by the Scottish government to lead a campaign promoting mask-wearing and lateral flow testing.
The last voiceover video featuring Sturgeon was released to commemorate her resignation as First Minister in 2023. In it, she promised to head "down the caravan" before breaking into a performance of Abba's classic, Dancing Queen.
Jane Godley Currie was born on January 20, 1961, in Glasgow and spent her early years in Shettleston, one of the city's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. During her childhood, she faced severe trauma, having been subjected to abuse and assault by her uncle. Later in life, she bravely took legal action against him and won a conviction. Her parents, Jim and Annie, battled their own challenges with alcohol addiction, and Annie also struggled with drug dependency and depression.
Janey's parents separated in the mid-1970s, which led to her mother's health deteriorating. Many times, there was little to eat at home, so Janey had to search through the school bins for food. At 16, she dropped out of Eastbank Academy without any qualifications and married the son of a neighborhood gangster. In 1982, her mother was killed, and Janey believes it was at the hands of her abusive boyfriend, but the police never pressed any charges against him.
During her twenties, Janey managed a bar in Calton, a struggling area of Glasgow, alongside her husband. This experience helped her develop valuable skills in managing crowds and perfecting the comedic timing crucial for a career in stand-up comedy. However, a disagreement regarding the ownership of the pub escalated, forcing Janey and her family—now with a young daughter—to leave their home one night, never to go back.
In the early 1990s, she began her journey into comedy, participating in open-mic events around London. “I figured, ‘How tough can it be? It's just chatting, right?’” she reflected. In 2003, she presented her show, Caught in The Act of Being Myself, at the Edinburgh Fringe. At the same festival that August, she also debuted her first dramatic play, a powerful exploration of poverty and heroin addiction.
Subsequent performances in Edinburgh featured "Good Godley" in 2004 and "Domestic Godley" in 2008, the latter of which received the Nivea Funny Women Fringe Award.
Janey Godley kept writing and performing even after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021. She created a murder mystery book titled *Nothing Left Unsaid* and produced a touring show called *Not Dead Yet*.
She had clear and unique thoughts about what the afterlife might hold for her. “I believe I’ll be having a lot of unusual encounters with Donny Osmond,” she shared with The Herald. “He won't be able to say no. That's just how it’s going to be.”
In 1980, Janey Godley tied the knot with Sean Storrie. Together, they welcomed a daughter named Ashley, who is also a comedian. In 2019, both Janey and Ashley were nominated for an award recognizing their "Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Comedy," with Janey ultimately winning the honor.
Janey Godley, who was born on January 20, 1961, passed away on November 2, 2024.
