Mint creator reveals how “intimate” series differs from other crime dramas – and why it doesn’t include one common element

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The new BBC series, Mint, centers on Shannon, the daughter of a powerful crime boss, portrayed by Emma Laird. The story follows her as she begins a relationship with Arran, played by Ben Coyle-Larner, but their connection creates conflict with her family.

Although the show is labeled a crime drama, it doesn’t spend much time detailing the actual crimes or criminal activity. Instead of focusing on how the criminal organization operates, it centers on the personal lives and relationships of the people within the family.

Charlotte Regan, the writer and director behind the series and known for her work on ‘Scrapper,’ recently shared with TopMob the inspiration behind its creation.

He explained that the inspiration came from watching similar shows on TV and being drawn to certain characters. He specifically mentioned characters like Shannon, who is initially withdrawn but experiences significant challenges, and Arran, who is deeply vulnerable.

I was inspired by my love for gangster movies and crime shows, but I wanted to explore the personal relationships and quieter moments happening behind the scenes.

When questioned about the lack of specifics regarding the crime family’s activities in the series, Regan stated she didn’t feel it was necessary to replicate what many other shows already do effectively. She preferred not to add that element to her project.

She added with a laugh that others were likely filming similar scenes with much larger budgets, and that their action sequences would have seemed low-budget in comparison.

I’m mostly interested in what people are talking about and how they connect with each other emotionally. It’s less about what I want to experience and more about observing those connections.

I’m interested in understanding Arran’s emotional state, or learning more about Shannon’s relationship with her father. I’m not interested in scenes of men conspiring and planning criminal activity.

The drama features a talented cast including Sam Riley, known for his role in ‘Firebrand,’ Laura Fraser (‘Patience’), Lewis Gribben (‘Black Mirror’), and Lindsay Duncan (‘Sherwood’), alongside Laird and Coyle-Larner.

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Mint is a story about a passionate love that faces tough challenges, including heartbreak, all because the people around the couple are afraid of them.

You can watch ‘Mint’ on BBC One starting Monday, April 20th at 9pm. All episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am that same day.

Don’t forget to add Mint to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download it today for daily TV suggestions, the latest features, and more.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, an international TV production company. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, and a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-04-13 02:34