Janey Godley: The Glaswegian Pub Landlady Who Became a Formidable Comedian

Janey Godley, who passed away at 63 years old, transformed a challenging early life marked by suffering and adversity into a thriving career in comedy. Her difficult formative years in Glasgow’s east end consistently informed her comedic style. Frequently expressing anger, she excelled at extracting humor from improbable subjects. Her performances reflected the character of the city that influenced her: working-class, outspoken, and simultaneously indignant and emotional. She delivered her comedic attacks rapidly, emphasizing her points with the intensity of a street-fighter. To her admirers, she represented their own experiences, and her renown and impact expanded over time. The erstwhile pub landlady developed a close friendship with Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister, following the widespread popularity of her videos that provided voice-overs for the First Minister’s Covid press conferences. Born Jane Godley Currie on January 20, 1961, in Glasgow’s Shettleston district, she was the youngest of four siblings. Both her parents struggled with alcohol addiction, resulting in a disorganized and impoverished household. During her early childhood, she endured sexual abuse by an uncle. Three decades later, in 1996, she and her sister publicly disclosed the abuse after their testimony led to the conviction of David Percy, who received a two-year prison sentence. In an interview conducted at that time, she stated: “We waited 30 years but we did it, and we did it together. Anyone who has been abused knows you cannot shake off the guilt. But the guilty one was Percy.” Further misfortune followed. In 1982, her mother, Annie, was discovered deceased in the River Clyde. Godley maintained a belief that her mother had been murdered by her violent boyfriend, although the individual was never charged, despite the family’s demands for an inquiry. At that point, Godley had married and was operating a pub alongside her husband in Glasgow’s Calton district. They had a daughter, Ashley Storrie, who would subsequently pursue a career in comedy, following her mother’s path. Her in-laws became a significant element of her comedic performances. She frequently referenced their alleged criminal ties, and a family disagreement ultimately prompted her to begin performing stand-up in her mid-30s. This rift compelled them to vacate the pub, rendering them without a home and unemployed. While she had previously participated in occasional open-mic events, she subsequently committed more seriously to comedy. Her extensive experience refining her comedic delivery while working behind a bar proved beneficial, and she rapidly gained recognition within the comedy scene. Her performances on stage were unyielding. In 2019, she discussed her subject matter with The Guardian. “I spoke about my ma being murdered, child abuse, gangsters. Back then, even comics were saying: ‘You shouldn’t talk about that.’ But I’m so glad I did.” “The amount of people that came up to me and said: ‘I was abused and I’ve never laughed before’.” With increasing recognition, she authored a memoir and a novel, and frequently featured on panel programs. She shared appearances with Billy Connolly and the late Antony Bourdain, and portrayed a barmaid in the movie Wild Rose. Two distinct events brought her to international attention and into the realm of politics. In 2016, she was photographed at the Turnberry golf resort displaying a sign containing an offensive term, in protest of a visit by the club’s owner, President Trump. This image achieved widespread viral circulation. Subsequently, during the Covid lockdowns, she started producing videos where she provided voice-overs for Nicola Sturgeon’s media briefings, depicting the first minister as a straightforward, at times expletive-using character, worn out by the pandemic’s pressures and frustrated by journalistic inquiries. As a dedicated advocate for independence, she had shared a stage with Alex Salmond and received commendation from Nicola Sturgeon. This association faced scrutiny in September 2021 when remarks she had published on social media ten years prior resurfaced. She was subsequently removed from her role as the public face of a Scottish government health initiative and acknowledged that the tweets contained “terrible, horrific undertones.” Two months subsequent to this, Godley disclosed her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She chronicled her illness and therapeutic interventions via social media and through her touring activities. For a period, she was deemed free of the disease, but in December 2022, she declared its recurrence. Despite being informed of a potential prognosis of death within the year, she persisted in her professional endeavors. She produced a BBC radio program detailing her condition and maintained an active presence on X, previously known as Twitter. She contributed to various BBC programs, such as Have I Got News For You and Breaking the News. More recently, she created a BBC documentary titled Janey, which chronicled her 2023 tour. In April of that same year, she was awarded the inaugural Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award. He commented: “She’s a great girl, a great comedian and an extraordinary life story.” Godley remarked: “I can’t believe I’ve won this. I have won an award from a man that I’ve admired since I was a child.” Displaying the award, she stated: “This is going to be my tombstone.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. 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