Comedian Janey Godley getting ‘close to finish’ of terminal most cancers combat

Scottish comedian Janey Godley today revealed she is getting ‘near the end’ of her terminal cancer battle as she gave a heartbreaking update on her illness.

The 63-year-old stand-up told fans she would be getting palliative care for ovarian cancer and going into a hospice in a video shared to social media this afternoon.

‘The chemo ran out of options and I just couldn’t take any more of it and the cancer has spread,’ she told followers to an outpouring of love and support.

‘So it looks like this will be getting to near the end of it and it’s really difficult to speak about this and say to people.’

The Glasgow-born comedian announced last week that she had cancelled her upcoming UK tour amid ongoing treatment. 

‘It is devastating news to know that I’m facing end-of-life but we all come to an end sometime,’ she said in the video published on Wednesday.

‘I want to thank everybody for supporting the family, especially (her daughter) Ashley and my husband.

‘The overwhelming support has been amazing, and I don’t know how long I’ve got left before anybody asks. I’m not a TikTok.

‘So I just want you to know that I appreciate all the love you’ve gave me and all the support. Cancer affects two in one people, and it’s affected me.’

She also thanked charities who have supported her throughout her health journey.

Responding to her latest video, Nicola Sturgeon wrote: ‘Sending you so much love, my friend. You are an inspiration.’

TV cook Nigella Lawson wrote: ‘Oh Janey, this is heartbreaking. Thank you for all you’ve given the world – and for being you.’ 

And fellow comic Dom Joly added: ‘God bless you Janey – you are truly wonderful.’ 

Godley, who found viral fame with her dubbed pastiches of Sturgeon‘s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021.

In 2022 the comedian was given the all-clear and said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that a scan showed ‘no evidence of disease’.

However, she later announced that another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen but added that she would continue touring.

Earlier this month, she cancelled her forthcoming tour this autumn while in hospital being treated for sepsis.

Her cancer had been kept at bay through NHS treatment over the last few years and had returned with a few added complications.

A statement from the Glasgow-born comedian’s team said: ‘It is with huge sadness that we must announce the cancellation of Janey Godley’s autumn 2024 tour.

‘Janey has been living with stage four ovarian cancer for the past few years and the treatment from the wonderful Scottish NHS has kept the disease at bay.

‘But sadly in the last few weeks the cancer has returned and there have been a few added complications. Her doctors have now advised her that she must stop work for the foreseeable future.

In her latest message, she wished everyone a lovely Christmas and said she hopes to be here for it but is not certain.

The comedian also sent her ‘love and support to everybody else out there who’s living with a life-limiting disease’.

Godley told ITV‘s Lorraine that fellow comedian had Jimmy Carr played a key role in convincing her to continue her tour despite her diagnosis.

She said: ‘I decided to cancel the tour, and my mate Jimmy Carr said, ‘Is your mouth not working?’. I went, ‘Yeah, my mouth works’ and he said, ‘Well get back on tour.”

Born in poverty in Glasgow in 1961, Godley went on to become a regular co-presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends, as well as fronting BBC Radio 4 series The C Bomb.

The comedian was photographed at Turnberry golf resort with her infamous ‘unwelcome’ sign for Donald Trump in 2016.

She faced controversy in 2021 after Scottish Government coronavirus adverts she featured in were pulled after offensive tweets by her came to light following an investigation by the Daily Beast website.

Godley profusely apologised for the tweets and donated the £12,000 fee she was paid to charity.

In 2023, Godley became the winner of the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

In a video she posted to social media last year, Godley said she had received scan results that showed the treatment she was on was keeping her terminal and incurable ovarian cancer ‘at bay’.

Earlier in the year, Godley performed dates across the country in towns and cities including Bristol, Epsom, Norwich and Milton Keynes.