Of all the comedians in the castle, Joanne McNally was initially the least well known, says Caroline Frost, TV editor at Radio Times.
But she flourished on the show, lasting right up to Thursday’s semi-final.
“And she’s taken her own path, ignoring the herd and making her own voting decisions, sometimes chaotically, but always with charm, wit and good humour,” says Frost.
The Irish comedian’s podcast was already popular before the show.
But after her stint as the joker of the pack, bigger things could now lie in store for her.
Just a few days ago, it was announced, external that her stand-up tour has been extended into 2027, “due to phenomenal demand”.
And her agents will be “fielding calls” for her to bring her star power to other shows, adds Frost.
Culture journalist Jamieson says some of the other female contestants – such as Sharon Rooney, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Myha’la – also stood out for showing their wit and wisdom, which could serve them well in the outside world.
Things got a bit awkward in one of the episodes, when Sharon disagreed with some of the cast on a challenge, with some social media users saying she was acting in a “childish” way.
But others argued it was a classic case of women being drowned out by men.
“There’s been a subtlety in the smartness of women on display here, alongside the frustration of not always being listened to in the game,” says Jamieson.