BBC’s new crime drama Mint is being compared to Shetland meets MobLand — but its most dangerous element may be a love neither family can accept. Set against the striking Scottish landscape, the eight-part drama follows Shannon, the 22-year-old daughter of a powerful crime family, who falls for Arran, a member of a rival clan. As forbidden romance collides with family loyalty and a changing criminal empire, the stakes quickly become impossible to ignore. With Emma Laird and Benjamin Coyle-Larner leading a stylish, emotionally charged story, Mint offers a darker take on the classic Romeo-and-Juliet setup.

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Mint: The BBC’s Striking New Crime Drama Blends Gangland Tension With a Forbidden Love Story

The BBC’s new eight-part drama Mint puts a fresh spin on the crime genre, pairing the dangerous world of rival criminal families with an intense young romance. Set in Scotland, the series follows Shannon, the 22-year-old daughter of a powerful crime family, and Arran, a newcomer connected to a rival clan.

Their relationship quickly becomes complicated by the families they were born into, turning what begins as an unexpected romance into a story of loyalty, heartbreak and family conflict.

The series was created and written by Charlotte Regan, the acclaimed writer and director behind Scrapper. Mint is produced by Fearless Minds, the company behind The Critic, and House Productions, known for dramas including Sherwood and the Oscar-winning film Conclave.

Critics have already praised the drama for its distinctive visual style and emotional storytelling. The Guardian awarded it four stars and described it as “the most outrageously beautiful TV show since Twin Peaks,” while also highlighting the performances and unusual approach to the crime genre.

What is Mint about?

Emma Laird plays Shannon, the naïve and fiercely romantic daughter of the area’s dominant crime family

At the centre of Mint is Shannon, played by Emma Laird, the daughter of a crime family that dominates her Scottish hometown.

At 22, Shannon has grown up surrounded by the influence and expectations that come with her family. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Arran, played by Benjamin Coyle-Larner, who has recently arrived in the area and belongs to a rival criminal family.

Despite the obvious danger surrounding their relationship, the two fall for each other.

Their romance unfolds as tensions within Shannon’s own family begin to rise. Early in the story, her father Dylan decides to step away from his position as head of the family for mysterious reasons. His second-in-command, Sam, takes over, but his increasingly different approach creates new concerns.

Rather than focusing solely on criminal operations or gangland politics, the series spends much of its time exploring the people caught inside that world.

Shannon’s parents, Dylan and Cat, her older brother Luke and her grandmother Ollie all have their own emotional struggles, adding another layer to the story.

That focus was deliberate. Regan has explained that she wanted to explore the intimate relationships inside a crime family rather than simply repeat familiar scenes of gang meetings and shootouts.

A different kind of gangster drama

Arran (BENJAMIN COYLE-LARNER), Shannon (EMMA LAIRD)

Although Mint has all the ingredients of a crime thriller, it approaches the genre from a more personal perspective.

The central question is not simply what the criminals are doing, but what it means to grow up surrounded by that world — and what happens when someone begins trying to find love and independence within it.

The romance between Shannon and Arran gives the story its emotional core, while the increasingly complicated family dynamics create the danger around them.

The series has been described as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, with the forbidden relationship placed against the backdrop of rival criminal families.

Its visual style also sets it apart. The drama uses imaginative imagery, intimate close-ups and dreamlike sequences to reflect Shannon’s perspective, giving the story a more youthful and emotional quality than a conventional gangster drama.

Who stars in Mint?

Arran (BENJAMIN COYLE-LARNER)

Emma Laird leads the cast as Shannon, while Benjamin Coyle-Larner plays Arran. Coyle-Larner, better known as musician Loyle Carner, makes his acting debut in the series.

They are joined by:

  • Sam Riley as Shannon’s father, Dylan
  • Laura Fraser as her mother, Cat
  • Lewis Gribben as her brother, Luke
  • Lindsay Duncan as her grandmother, Ollie

The cast brings together performers from projects including Firebrand, Control, Breaking Bad, Patience, Somewhere Boy and Sherwood.

What have critics said?

Ollie (LINDSAY DUNCAN)

Mint has received a positive response for its unusual combination of romance, crime and highly stylised storytelling.

The Guardian gave the series four stars and praised its striking visual approach, describing it as an unusually beautiful take on the gangster genre.

The publication also highlighted Emma Laird, Laura Fraser and Sam Riley, while noting how the drama gradually moves beyond its initial love-story premise into a more complex exploration of crime, family and power.

Radio Times similarly described Mint as a genre-bending series in which the relationships between the characters are more important than traditional depictions of criminal activity.

All eight episodes are available to watch

Shannon (EMMA LAIRD)

Mint premiered on BBC One on April 20, 2026, with all eight episodes made available on BBC iPlayer the same day.

For viewers looking for a crime drama that puts as much emphasis on romance, family and emotional conflict as it does on danger, Mint offers something noticeably different.

At its heart, it is a story about two young people falling in love while the world around them makes that relationship increasingly difficult — and about what happens when family loyalty collides with the desire to choose a life of your own.