Celebrity Champion Shortlist - Janey Godley

Celebrity Champion Shortlist - Janey Godley

Janey Godley is a Scottish stand-up comedian, actress and writer from Glasgow. She won the Scots Language Awards Speaker of the Year Award in 2020, and in 2023 won the Spirit of Glasgow Comedy Award, chosen by Billy Connolly. She has published three books, and is well known in Scotland for her series of ‘Frank Gets the Door’ voiceovers shared on Twitter during the covid pandemic.

In November 2021, Janey announced via Twitter the cancellation of the last weekend of her tour, explaining that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was being treated in hospital. She had a full hysterectomy in January 2022 and

announced in June that she was cancer-free. On 13 December 2022, she announced that her cancer had returned and that she would need further chemotherapy.

The fact that all of the above is common knowledge via Janey’s Wikipedia page is illustrative of the openness with which she has shared (and continues to share) her cancer journey on Twitter. Through this, Janey has demonstrated that it is not taboo to talk about illness, cancer, or cancer treatment, providing some solace to others going through similar experiences.

By modelling an open approach, Godley has helped to increase awareness that cancer journeys can be unpredictable, and that people continue to work and live and achieve while living with serious incurable illness. She continues to share updates on her cancer journey on Twitter, and her reach extends far beyond her followers, with her story appearing for example in the Independent, the Daily Record and the Guardian.

Janey Godley is currently part way through her Not Dead Yet Tour.

Read about the other Demystifying Death Award nominees here: Demystifying Death Awards Blogs