Mint creator teases Lindsay Duncan’s unique character: ‘A type of grandma you very rarely see on screen’

New BBC drama Mint tells the story of Emma Laird's Shannon, and her forbidden romance with Benjamin Coyle-Larner's Arran. However, the duo are also joined by a stellar supporting cast.

Featuring the likes of Sam Riley, Laura Fraser and Lewis Gribben as Shannon's family, a crime group operating in Glasgow, the series also stars Lindsay Duncan as her formidable grandma, Ollie.

The series comes from Scrapper writer and and director Charlotte Regan, and when asked about Duncan's role in the series, she was effusive.

"She is the best - she's the greatest human in the world," Regan said. "We were so lucky to get her. She was someone who, throughout the process, we'd always spoke about really wanting to talk to, but assuming she would be too busy or it wouldn't be something she'd want to do. So, when she said yes, it was pretty incredible.

"And what she brings to Ollie as well, that dialogue could have just really fell flat with other people, but she really toes that line with the humour of it. She can play it incredibly well."

Speaking about Ollie, Regan said: "Her character, Ollie, I think it was just a grandma that I recognise - it's not my nan, but it's women I've met and women I've seen and interacted with, but very rarely get to see in these kind of things.

"I didn't want her to be at home, baking and knitting and stuff like that. She's out there. She's probably the backbone of the entire family, I would say."

The synopsis for Mint says that Shannon, the daughter of her area’s dominant crime family, is desperately searching for romance in the shadow of her father, Dylan.

"We’ll experience the obsession of first love as Shannon falls hard for Arran, a member of a rival crime family who has newly arrived in town," the synopsis says. "Their love story presents an undeniable connection that changes both of their lives for good, but not everyone in their lives sees it the same way.

"While Shannon and Arran are navigating their forbidden romance, elsewhere things are imploding for Shannon’s family. Early in our series, Dylan decides to step down as the head of the family for mysterious reasons. Sam, Dylan’s second in command, steps up to take over, though his diverging tactics start to raise alarm across our series.

"In the wake of Dylan’s decision, instead of focusing on the crime world or the politics of succession, we’re swept into the distinct emotional worlds of Shannon’s family – her parents, Dylan and Cat, her older brother Luke and her indomitable grandma Ollie."

Mint will begin airing on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 20 April, with all episodes available on BBC iPlayer that day at 6am.

Add Mint to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.