Janey Godley: Nicola Sturgeon joins mourners at funeral of her impressionist

Mourners have been paying their last respects to the comedian Janey Godley at her funeral in Glasgow.

She died earlier this month aged 63 after receiving palliative treatment for terminal cancer.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those to attend the service at St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow.

Godley found surprising fame with her impression of Ms Sturgeon’s COVID-19 news briefings during the pandemic.

The ex-SNP leader described her as “a force of nature” and “one of the funniest people I have ever known”.

Other mourners have also attended the service wearing bright colours in line with Godley’s wishes.

The Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth began by telling the congregation that Godley would be remembered with “kindness and with love” and added that “forgiveness” would be among the themes of the service.

Her daughter, Ashley Storrie – who is also a comedian – spoke during the service and said her mother “asked that I headline her funeral” but “I can’t do any of her jokes cause ‘house of God’ and that”.

“She was a comedian, that was her thing first and foremost. She tried acting, she hated it. She was a terrible singer. She couldn’t knit, she tried. There’s pictures of Liam Neeson with a hideous scarf to prove it. But what she was, was a comedian,” she added.

She concluded – her voice breaking – by asking “for one last time… please put your hands together for my ma, Janey Godley”.

The congregation then rose to their feet, cheering and applauding.

Gavin Mitchell, who played Bobby the barman in the TV sitcom Still Game, was also among the mourners.

As the coffin was lifted out of the church, a recording of Godley’s famous catchphrase was played to the congregation: “Frank, Get the Door”.

Godley’s coffin took a two-day “final tour” of Edinburgh and Glasgow ahead of her funeral service on Saturday, before a private cremation.

Godley revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021, but despite being given the all-clear in 2022 the disease returned.

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She died at a hospice in Glasgow on 2 November, shortly after being awarded an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow.

Known for her stand-up career, including several radio shows and numerous TV appearances, Godley did not shy away from openly discussing cancer or controversial topics.

She secured worldwide fame in 2018 after protesting at Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort, holding a sign which read “Trump is a c***”