In the book ""Soapbox"", Gray compares Nell to Ida Jessup, a character she previously played in "The Sullivans", stating: "Mrs Jessup and Mrs Mangel are sisters under the skin, they were both gossips with too many opinions. But Jessup had saving graces – she would help people – Mangel is mean and bitchy." However, Sarah Ellis from "Inside Soap" wrote that Nell did have some redeeming features. She took care of her granddaughter Jane Harris (Annie Jones) after her mother moved to Hong Kong, she loved Bouncer the Labrador, and she had unrequited feelings for Harold Bishop.