Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to comedian Janey Godley after her death aged 63.

Godley passed away after a long battle with ovarian cancer after recently sharing she was receiving palliative care and would be moving into a hospice. 

Confirming her passing, her manager Chris David said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our client Doctor Janey Godley on 2nd November.

“Janey died peacefully in the wonderful Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow surrounded by her loved ones.

“She will be hugely missed by her family, friends and her many fans.

“She will be remembered for her legendary voiceovers of Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic, her hilarious and outspoken comedy, but most of all for just being ‘Janey’.”

Now close friend Nicola Sturgeon has shared an emotional tribute to the late comedian.

Nicola Sturgeon shares tribute to amid Janey Godley's death

Taking to Instagram, Sturgeon wrote: "Knowing for the past few weeks that this moment was fast approaching didn’t make it any less heartbreaking to hear the news early this morning that Janey had died.

"Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known.

"I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches.

"Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place.

"A bond was forged between us in the darkest days of Covid when her famous voiceovers of my daily briefings went viral."

Adding: "In the toughest of times, she made people laugh - and that was precious.

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Scottish stand-up comedian Janey Godley dies aged 63 after cancer battle

"She did more than that though. In managing to project the serious public health messages of my briefings to a much wider audience than I would have managed alone, she helped save lives.

Sharing a photo of the pair, Sturgeon went on to say: "The photos on this post are from an @ayewriteglasgow event we did together last year - it was a special night.
"I was so proud to call Janey a friend and will miss her hugely. My heart goes out to her family and many friends - they are in my thoughts today.

"I know Frank will have been there, holding the door for her as she went - with a tear in his eye, as I have in mine. RIP my friend."