Nicola Sturgeon hails 'a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known'

The current and former First Ministers of Scotland have paid tribute to Janey Godley, who died this morning at the age of 63, three years after her first cancer diagnosis.

Current SNP leader John Swinney posted: ‘Very sorry to hear of the death of  @JaneyGodley . She brought joy and laughter on many occasions when we needed it most. My condolences to her family. May she Rest in Peace.’

And his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, who got to know Godley after the comedian’s videos revoicing her Covid briefings went viral, posted a longer message praising her a ‘force of nature’ – along with the above picture.

The politician wrote: ‘Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was fast approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear the news early this morning that Janey had died.

‘Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known. I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches.

‘Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place. A bond was forged between us in the darkest days of Covid when her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral. In the toughest of times, she made people laugh - and that was precious. 

‘She did more than that though. In managing to project the serious public health messages of my briefings to a much wider audience than I would have managed alone, she helped save lives.

‘I was so proud to call Janey a friend and will miss her hugely. My heart goes out to her family and many friends - they are in my thoughts today.’

And in reference to Godley’s ‘Frank get the door’ catchphrase from those videos, Sturgeon added: ‘ I know Frank will have been there, holding the door for her as she went - with a tear in his eye, as I have in mine. RIP my friend.’

Fellow comedian also paid tribute online. Here are just some of the messages posted: 

Writer and producer Gail Renard, the treasurer of the Writers’ Guild Of Great Britain:  ‘RIP Janey Godley, a woman who knew pain in her life, but chose to radiate warmth, love and comedy instead. Condolences to her husband, daughter Ashley Storrie, family and friends. Janey was a great lady, who will be very missed. #JaneyGodley’ 

Vicar turned broadcaster Richard Coles: I loved  @JaneyGodley . She made me laugh every day, she loved a sausage, and no one has ever given a more comprehensive assessment of the personal qualities of the 45th President of the United States. #RIPJaney, and condolences to her family and friends.’

Comic Dave Fulton posted a picture of Godley at Turnberry Golf Course with her ‘Trump is cunt’ banner, saying: ‘This is the recently departed   @JaneyGodley  a brilliant Scottish comedian who could smell bullsh*t miles away. She’s gone but the people who built this golf course for trump have still yet to be paid. Safe travels Janey RIP.’

This is the recently departed @JaneyGodley a brilliant Scottish comedian who could smell bullsh*t miles away. She’s gone but the people who built this golf course for trump have still yet to be paid. Safe travels Janey RIP pic.twitter.com/NI6JUAV7kQ

— Dave Fulton ???? (@fulton_dave) November 2, 2024

Writer and actor Emma Kennedy: 'So very sad to hear  @janeygodley has left us. I so loved our online friendship over the years. She made me HOOT laughing and I will forever be in awe of her staunch support of the Trans community. Her Trump's A Cunt poster is the stuff of legend. Go well you brilliant brave woman. All love to her friends and family.’

Julia McKenzie, commissioning editor of Radio 4 comedy said in a statement: 'Janey was a brilliant storyteller who embodied the stoic nature of Glasgow, offering audiences a very honest window into how she processed sometimes traumatic and sometimes hilarious stories from her life. Her stories were raw and truthful, both devastating and uplifting, very often in the same sentence; and all shot through with her sharp wit and ability to bring characters to life. She has inspired many - not least all of us at BBC Radio 4 - with her instinct to always make people laugh in the face of darkness, bringing both dignity and empowerment to those different aspects of herself.  Janey was entering a new exciting phase of her career, and she has gone too soon. But what a life. It’s her daughter Ashley and Janey’s husband who we are thinking of at this time. The team at Radio 4 send them our love and we will raise a glass to Janey’s legacy which lives on in her work.'

Comedian Robin Ince: ‘I am very sorry to see that Janey Godley has died - a kind, campaigning, and very funny individual’

Comic Toby Hadoke: ‘Really sorry to hear this news. She was a one-off, a force of nature and lived life to the full. Sending all our love at this sad time xx’

Stand-up Matt Green: ‘So very sad to hear about  @JaneyGodley. She was a brilliant comedian and writer and such a wonderful person to be around. I worked with her a few times and she was always fantastic. A great loss to comedy and the world. RIP Janey.’

Actress and writer  Carol Drinkwater: Dear  @JaneyGodley. Your courage, humour, stamina, honesty, loathing of a certain US public figure, your assessment of him, will never be forgotten. May flights of angels carry you onwards. There will be a few laughs in the heavens as they greet you over next few days. RIP, Janey.’

Trigger Happy TV’s Dom Joly: ‘RIP Janey Godley - she was one of a kind and a lovely, funny  person.’

Published: 2 Nov 2024