Comedian Janey Godley cancels tour from hospital bed

Comedian Janey Godley has cancelled her autumn tour after being readmitted to hospital due to her ongoing treatment for terminal ovarian cancer.

The 63-year-old from Glasgow had planned to kick off her Why Is She Still Here? tour with events planned in cities across the UK including London, Belfast and Edinburgh.

But her doctors advised that she should stop working “for the foreseeable future”.

Ms Godley, who found viral fame with her dubbed videos of Nicola Sturgeon’s Covid briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021.

She was given the all-clear in 2022 but a later scan discovered signs of the disease again.

In a video posted on social media, Ms Godley said she had been in hospital for eight days with sepsis.

She said the sepsis was under control but her cancer was spreading, so her doctors had advised her to focus on recovery.

The comedian apologised to fans, saying: “I know people booked hotels and trains and everything – I’m so, so sorry.

“If I could go in my hospital bed I would. But I’m going to be in hospital for another couple of days.

“Thank you so much for all your love and support.”

A statement to the PA news agency said Ms Godley had been living with stage four ovarian cancer for the past few years.

It read: “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.”

A spokesperson said she was “devastated” to let down “loyal fans and the wonderful venues”.

In 2022 the comedian was given the all-clear and said in a social media post 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 she would continue with her tour in February and March 2023.

In a video posted to social media last year, she said the treatment she was on was keeping her terminal and incurable ovarian cancer “at bay”.

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

Born in Glasgow in 1961, Ms 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 won the inaugural Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

She featured in Scottish government coronavirus adverts but they were pulled after offensive historical tweets by her came to light.