Polly Hudson of the "Daily Mirror" described the character as "a nosey, spiteful killjoy, hellbent on ruining everyone on Ramsay Street's fun". Hudson thought Nell was somewhat redeemed by her love for Bouncer the dog, saying "there is good in everyone, somewhere, if you look really hard." Paying tribute to the character following her off-screen death, Sarah Ellis of "Inside Soap" wrote, "For someone who was only on our screens for two years, Mrs Mangel left a legacy to last a lifetime. RIP Mrs M – you will be missed!"