Beloved comedian Janey Godley receiving end-of-life care as terminal cancer spreads

Janey Godley has shared that she is now receiving end-of-life care after  cancer spread.

The 63-year-old comedian from Glasgow posted on social media that she is receiving palliative care in a hospital and will soon be moving into a hospice.

‘I’m now at end of life care – palliative care – and will be going into a hospice for the foreseeable – thanks to everyone who sends me love and support- you’ve been amazing,’ she wrote on X.

Alongside the message, she shared a video where she spoke further about her situation while sitting on a hospital bed.

‘The chemo ran out of options, and I just couldn’t take any more of it,’ she began.

‘The cancer has spread, 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 it to people.’

The star then thanked the NHS staff, friends and family for their support and taking good care of her.

Janey added: ‘It is devastating news to know that I’m facing the end of life but we all come to an end sometime.

‘I don’t know how long I’ve got left before anybody asks. I’m not a TikTok so I just want you all to know that I appreciate all the love you’ve given me,’ she continued.

‘I hope yous all have a lovely Christmas. I might be here, who knows? But I just want you to know I’m sending all my love to people living with a life-limiting disease.’

After sharing the post, Janey was met with an outpouring of support.

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

Dom Joly added: ‘God bless you Janey – you are truly wonderful.’ ‘Sending you so much love, my friend. You are an inspiration,’ wrote Nicola Sturgeon.

India Willoughby echoed the sentiments and said: ‘Janey, you are such a beautiful and funny person. One of my Twitter and life heroes. So strong. All-time star.’

This comes shortly after Janey cancelled her autumn tour Why Is She Still Here? explaining that her cancer had spread.

Taking to social media with a heartbreaking statement, she announced: ‘I have to cancel my upcoming tour, I’m sorry but the cancer has spread and the Beatson cancer team have advised me to stop work.

‘I am currently in hospital with sepsis (it’s under control) pls contact your theatre for a refund – I’m sorry everyone.’

‘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,’ an official statement said.

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 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 with her tour in February and March 2023.

Godley told ITV’s Lorraine that fellow comedian 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.”’

Janey has been honest about her health and so in December 2023, she said her latest scan had shown the cancer had returned.

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.

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

Janey has been married to husband Sean Storrie since 1980, and the pair share daughter Ashley Storrie – also a stand-up comedian and BBC Radio Scotland host.