Nell Mangel

Neighbours character

Portrayed by

Vivean Gray

Duration

1986–88

First appearance

29 April 1986

Last appearance

25 October 1988

Created by

Ray Kolle

Introduced by

Reg Watson

Classification

Former; regular

Profile

Occupation

Retired hotel housekeeper

Home

England

Sisters	Isabelle
Husband	Len Mangel (1946–87) John Worthington (1988–)
Sons	Joe Mangel
Daughters	Amanda Harris
Grandsons	Toby Mangel
Granddaughters	Jane Harris

Sisters	Isabelle
Husband	Len Mangel (1946–87) John Worthington (1988–)
Sons	Joe Mangel
Daughters	Amanda Harris
Grandsons	Toby Mangel
Granddaughters	Jane Harris

Eleanor "Nell" Worthington (previously Mangel) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Vivean Gray. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 April 1986. She was known almost exclusively to others as "Mrs Mangel". The character caused controversy among some of the public, who in turn abused Gray constantly because of Nell. In the short time she was in the series her constant sparring with Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) was a focal point in her storylining, as well as being a continual annoyance among her neighbours with her nosy, interfering and nasty attitude. She is often described as one of the series' most iconic characters and one of its greatest villains.

Vivean Gray was cast in the role after she previously played a similar role to that of Nell in a fellow Australian soap opera titled The Sullivans. Mrs Mangel was only supposed to appear in Neighbours for three weeks. However, the character proved popular with viewers and she became a permanent member of the cast. Gray decided to quit the series in 1988, one of the main reasons which helped her reach the decision was due to high amounts of abuse received from the general public who failed to distinguish Gray from her character, often taunting her for her character's cantankerous personality. After leaving Gray quit acting all together and moved to the United Kingdom. Co-star Ian Smith who played Harold Bishop also passed comment on the situation stating that it was mainly young youths who used to hound Gray, because of their dislike of Nell. Gray spoke about her decision to quit stating: "I loved Neighbours and the rest of the cast were marvellous. But because it was so successful I could barely set foot outside my own door without someone screaming abuse at horrid old "Mrs Mangel". People didn't seem to appreciate it was acting. So I decided to take a break." In 1989 Gray revealed that she would consider returning in the future after everything calmed down.

Nell is a very much a busybody: she is interfering, nosy and always gossiping. She is frosty and old-fashioned as she does not like to be called by her first name. She constantly spies on her Neighbours and tells tales about them. She insists she is a good Christian woman. She constantly moans and whines throughout her time in the serial. She has also been portrayed as fending off other characters if they tried to be nice to her. It was the mixture of all these traits that allow Nell to become one of the most hated soap characters of her time. In the Neighbours twentieth anniversary book Nell is described as being "the Ramsay Street gossip, the Queen Bee of the cul-de-sac, and her constant interfering in the affairs of her neighbours did not always endear her to the street". Upon her departure, behind the scenes scriptwriters decided to give Nell a pleasant exit plot, seeing Nell finally finding happiness.

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