Janey Godley
Janey Godley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jane Godley Currie 20 January 1961 Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland |
| Died | 2 November 2024 (aged 63) The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actress, author, political advocate |
| Years active | 1994–2024 |
| Known for | Stand-up comedy, satirical voice-overs during COVID-19 pandemic |
Jane Godley Currie (20 January 1961 – 2 November 2024), professionally recognized as Janey Godley, was a Scottish comedian, actress, author, and political advocate. Launching her stand-up journey in 1994, she secured multiple comedy accolades throughout the 2000s.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she gained attention for producing voice-over clips that mimicked politicians and notable personalities. In 2021, she was dismissed from a Beauty and the Beast pantomime after past racist tweets came to light, for which she subsequently expressed regret. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Godley passed away in 2024.
Early life
Born Jane Godley Currie on 20 January 1961 in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, Godley was the youngest of four siblings born to Annie and Jim Currie. She was raised in impoverished conditions on Kenmore Street in Shettleston, located in Glasgow's East End, and attended Eastbank Academy. Leaving school at sixteen without formal qualifications, she endured a challenging upbringing marked by her parents' struggles with alcoholism and her mother's dependency on tranquillisers. Both she and her sister were sexually abused by their uncle, who was later convicted and imprisoned. In 1982, her mother disappeared and was found deceased; Godley believed this was the result of violence inflicted by an abusive partner.
Career
For fifteen years, Godley and her spouse managed the Weavers Inn pub in Glasgow, an experience that honed her ability to handle varied audiences.
Starting her stand-up profession in 1994, she adopted the stage name Janey Godley in 1995 to create separation from family ties. Her work earned accolades such as "Best Show Concept" at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in 2002 and "Spirit of the Festival" in 2006. Her memoir, Handstands in the Dark, appeared in 2005. In 2006, she was shortlisted for the Edinburgh Evening Times "Scotswoman of the Year" award and received several nominations for "Best International Guest" from the New Zealand Comedy Guild between 2002 and 2009.
Her television appearances include roles on River City, Sam Delaney's News Thing, The Alex Salmond Show, Have I Got News for You, and Traces. She also featured in the film Wild Rose and became known for creating satirical voice-overs of video footage.
In 2020, Godley wrote and starred in Alone, a short film series part of the National Theatre of Scotland's Scenes for Survival online collection. The Royal Society of Edinburgh commended her voice-over renditions of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's COVID-19 announcements for boosting public engagement that year. She also earned the Scots Language Award as Speaker of the Year.
Controversy arose in September 2021 when offensive tweets from 2011 were rediscovered, prompting MSP Douglas Lumsden to criticize her involvement in a Beauty and the Beast pantomime. Following her apology, Public Health Scotland removed her from a related campaign.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kings of Comedy | Herself/Performer | Television Special |
| 2009 | River City | Maris MacKinnon | Guest Role (1 Episode) |
| 2012 | Timeshift | Comedian/Landlady | Contributor (1 Episode) |
| Chris Ramsey’s Comedy Fringe | Performer | TV Movie | |
| British Passions on Film | Herself | All 3 Episodes | |
| 2017 | The Blame Game | Performer | Guest Panelist (2 Episodes) |
| The Alex Salmond Show | Herself | Guest (1 Episode) | |
| 2018-2021 | Have I Got News For You | Regular Panelist (4 Episodes) | |
| 2018 | Super November | Donna | Supporting Role |
| Wild Rose | Jackie | Supporting Role | |
| 2019-2020 | Traces | Clare Tindall | Recurring Role (2 Episodes) |
| 2019 | The Comedy Underground | Performer | Contributor (1 Episode) |
| Breaking the News | Herself | Guest Panelist (1 Episode) | |
| The Last Mermaid | Pearl | Main Role | |
| 2020 | The Sarah O’Connell Show | Herself | Guest (1 Episode) |
| Billy and Us | Herself | Contributor (All 6 Episodes) | |
| This Morning | Herself | Guest (1 Episode) | |
| 2021 | Kay Burley | Herself/Comedian | Contributor (1 Episode) |
| Lorraine | Herself | Guest (1 Episode) | |
| Dregs | Mum | Main Role (All Episodes) | |
| 2024 | Janey | Herself | Television Documentary |
Political activism
Godley was a committed advocate for transgender rights, championing safeguards for transgender individuals worldwide. She also expressed support for Scottish independence. While she initially supported the Conservative Party during her youth and even met Margaret Thatcher at a Scottish Conservative Party Conference, her political allegiance later shifted to the Scottish National Party. In February 2016, she toured across the UK endorsing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
In 2016, Godley attracted widespread attention when she protested outside Donald Trump’s Turnberry Golf resort, holding a sign critical of Trump after Police Scotland prevented her from approaching him. Shortly before Trump won the presidential election, she organized a demonstration in Glasgow.
Personal life
Godley wed Sean Storrie in 1980. Storrie, who is autistic, comes from a Glasgow family with gangster ties. Their daughter, Ashley Storrie (born 1986), also on the autism spectrum, is a stand-up comedian and presenter on BBC Radio Scotland. Godley resided in Glasgow’s West End.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Godley and her husband ran a pub in Calton, Glasgow alongside his family for fourteen years. In 1982, when Godley was 21, her mother drowned in the River Clyde; Godley suspected involvement by her mother’s boyfriend, although no legal action was taken. On 31 December 2010, her brother Mij Currie passed away due to a drug-related condition.
Illness and death
In November 2021, Godley announced on Twitter that she had to cancel the final weekend of her tour after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent treatment including a full hysterectomy in January 2022. By June that year, she declared herself free of cancer; however, in December 2022 she revealed the cancer had returned and required additional chemotherapy. As her condition worsened, she entered palliative care and moved into a hospice in September 2024. The following month, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glasgow.
Godley passed away at The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow on 2 November 2024 at age 63. Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to her legacy. Her funeral took place at St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, led by Kelvin Holdsworth, with Sturgeon and actor Gavin Mitchell among those attending. The service concluded with a recording of Godley’s signature phrase, "Frank, get the door," as the cathedral doors opened.
Books
- Handstands in the Dark (2005), London: Ebury Press
- Frank Get the Door! (2020), Edinburgh: Luath Press. Illustrated by Christina Connelly
- Nothing Left Unsaid (2022), London: Hodder & Stoughton