Janey Godley obituary: Turning tragedy into comedy
Janey Godley: Glaswegian Landlady Turned Comedian
Janey Godley has made appearances on BBC shows such as Have I Got News For You.
Janey Godley, who passed away at the age of 63, transformed a challenging and tragic early life into a thriving career in comedy.
Growing up in the challenging environment of Glasgow's east end shaped her sense of humor. Frequently fueled by anger, she had a knack for finding humor in the most unexpected topics.
Her performance reflected the city that influenced her: rooted in the working class, outspoken, and a mix of frustration and nostalgia. She shot off her jokes at a rapid pace, driving her points home like a fighter in the streets.
To her supporters, she felt like one of them, and as her popularity increased, so did her impact. The ex-pub owner developed a strong friendship with Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, after her videos commenting on the FM's Covid press briefings went viral.
Jane Godley Currie, born on January 20, 1961, in the Shettleston neighborhood of Glasgow, was the youngest of four siblings. Her parents struggled with alcoholism, which contributed to a tumultuous and impoverished household.
When she was a little girl, her uncle sexually assaulted her. Three decades later, in 1996, she and her sister decided to speak out about the abuse, which led to the conviction of David Percy. He ended up receiving a two-year prison sentence.
During an interview back then, she expressed, "We waited three decades, but we achieved it together. Anyone who has experienced abuse understands that you can't just rid yourself of the guilt. However, the one who is truly guilty is Percy."
Another tragedy struck when Godley’s mother, Annie, was discovered dead in the River Clyde in 1982. Godley firmly believed that her mother had been killed by her abusive boyfriend, but despite the family's insistence on an investigation, the man was never prosecuted.
At that time, Godley was married and managing a pub alongside her husband in the Calton neighborhood of Glasgow. They had a daughter named Ashley Storrie, who would eventually pursue a career in comedy like her mother.
Photo credit: PA Media
Ashley Storrie took after her mother and ventured into the world of comedy.
Her in-laws became a key element of her stand-up routine. She frequently shared anecdotes about their shady associations, and it was a family conflict that prompted her to start performing on stage in her mid-30s.
The split compelled them to vacate the pub, leaving them without a place to live and without jobs.
She had been doing open-mic nights from time to time but decided to take it more seriously. Her years of developing her comedic skills while working behind a bar paid off, and she soon became a recognized figure in the comedy scene.
Her performance was bold and unyielding. In 2019, she discussed her content in an interview with the Guardian.
I shared my experiences of my mother's murder, the trauma of childhood abuse, and the influence of gangsters. At the time, even comic books were suggesting that these topics were off-limits. But I’m really thankful I chose to speak out anyway.
Many individuals approached me and shared, "I've experienced abuse and have never found joy or laughed before."
Image credit, PA Media
Janey Godley had a close relationship with the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
As her popularity increased, she penned a memoir and a novel and frequently appeared on panel shows. She shared the stage with Billy Connolly and the late Anthony Bourdain, and even took on the role of a barmaid in the movie Wild Rose.
Two factors exposed her to an international audience and paved her way into the realm of politics.
In 2016, she was seen at the Turnberry golf resort, holding a sign with an inappropriate word in protest of the club's owner's visit, who was President Trump. The image quickly spread across the internet.
During the Covid lockdowns, she started making videos where she provided voiceovers for Nicola Sturgeon's media briefings. In these videos, she depicted the first minister as straightforward and, at times, colorful in her language, showing her fatigue from the pandemic's challenges and her frustration with the media's inquiries.
An enthusiastic advocate for independence, she shared the stage with Alex Salmond and received accolades from Nicola Sturgeon.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Godley was a passionate and dedicated advocate for Scotland's independence.
In September 2021, that bond faced a challenge when old comments she had made on social media ten years earlier resurfaced and caused problems for her.
She was removed as the spokesperson for a health campaign by the Scottish government and acknowledged that the tweets carried "awful, shocking implications."
Two months later, Godley announced that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She shared her journey through the illness and her treatments on social media, as well as during her performances.
For some time, it seemed like she had fully recovered from the illness, but in December 2022, she revealed that it had come back.
Despite being informed that she might only have a year to live, she pressed on with her work. She produced a radio program for the BBC that focused on her illness and stayed active on X, which used to be known as Twitter.
She played a role in BBC shows like Have I Got News For You and Breaking the News. Recently, she created a BBC documentary titled Janey, which showcases her experiences during her tour in 2023.
In April of that year, she received the first-ever Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award.
He mentioned, "She's an amazing person, a talented comedian, and has an incredible story to tell about her life."
Godley expressed his disbelief, saying, "I can't believe I've actually won this. I've received an award from someone I've looked up to since I was a kid."
As she raised the award, she remarked, "This will be engraved on my gravestone."
