Mammoth is a new BBC Two comedy series that sees a larger-than-life 1970s bachelor transported into 2024 and excitingly the BBC has released a full trailer (see below).
Starring comedian Mike Bubbins and Car Share's Sian Gibson, it follows man-of-his-time Tony Mammoth, who is thought to have died in an avalanche on a school trip in 1979. But when Tony is miraculously brought back to life, he must reinvent himself as a PE teacher in modern-day Cardiff. Sian plays the mother of one of Tony’s pupils.
"I'm delighted that Mammoth has become a BBC series," says Mike Bubbins, who created the show. "I was a comedy fan well before I became a comedy writer and performer, and I still am, so I was very excited to watch Tony Mammoth come to life. And not just after being miraculously frozen in time, following a freak skiing accident, in 1979. I want Mammoth to be the sort of comedy that families can sit down to enjoy together. Big laughs, from a big character. With quite a big moustache."
Here’s everything you need to know about BBC Two series Mammoth…
Mammoth release date
Mammoth starts on BBC2 on Wednesday 17 April 2024 at 10pm. This new three-part series of Mammoth will also be shown as a box set on BBCiPlayer.
A pilot was previously shown back in 2021 on BBC1 Wales. We will update with a US release date and channel if Mammoth is released internationally or on any streaming services such as Apple TV Plus, Netflix or Prime Video.
How to watch Mammoth: stream the comedy series online or watch it on TV
Is there a trailer for Mammoth?
Yes there's a trailer for Mammoth and you can watch it below. It shows how Tony Mammoth was thought to have died in the 1970s while on a school skiing trip, but is revived and now, 42 years later, must adjust to modern life...
Mammoth plot
In 1979 teacher Tony Mammoth was leading a school skiing trip when disaster struck and they were caught up in an avalanche. Tony was presumed dead but when his body is found, four decades on, he’s miraculously brought back to life. But can he cope with the much-changed ways of today’s world?
His new life in 2024 takes a difficult turn, however, when he encounters Mel Jones (Sian Gibson), the protective mum of shy pupil Theo (Joel Davison). But soon a surprising connection between them is discovered…
Mammoth cast — Mike Bubbins on playing Tony Mammoth
Comedian Mike Bubbins stars as modern-day dinosaur Tony Mammoth (see main picture).
Mike Bubbins says: "He is a man’s man and a woman’s man, all rolled into one, or at least he thinks he is. He is a 45 year old man who never grew up, and a 90 year old man that never got old. He rarely thinks things through, he acts first. He has a wonderfully egalitarian approach to people; everyone, regardless of background or station, is either alright, or a dick. He loves his friends and family, almost as much as he loves Tony Mammoth. He is loving getting a second chance at life, even though he’s pretty sure he absolutely nailed it the first time around.
"I grew up in the late 70s and 1980s. I knew quite a few people not troubled by self-doubt, very much including my dad. Also, TV seemed to be full of larger than life characters. I probably first had the idea of Mammoth around ten or twelve years ago, but I’ve always found the frozen in time thing fascinating. I also taught PE for six years. I drew quite a bit in that experience. The school we filmed the Mammoth pilot in was the school I was teaching in before moving into comedy.
"In 1979 I was living with my mum, dad and sister in in Barry, attending Mr Moore’s primary school class. Mr Moore drove a convertible MG, had big sideburns, and coached the school football team. Very much a proto Mammoth.
"Most of Mammoth’s wardrobe was from my wardrobe, and the stuff that wasn’t is now being ‘stored’ there. Mammoth also drives my car."
* Mike Bubbins previously starred in Tourist Trap and The Great Unwashed but he’s also appeared on comedy panel shows such as Would I Lie To You? and House of Games.
Sian Gibson on playing Melanie
Sian Gibson plays school mum Melanie, says: "Mel is a single parent and working mother to her teenage son, Theo. Theo is her pride and joy and she will do anything for him and completely smothers him. She is a control freak, highly strung and is not afraid to say what she thinks, especially when it concerns Theo. She's a force of nature when she’s rattled. And Mammoth definitely knows how to get a reaction from her.
"Mammoth is a laugh out loud, nostalgic, family sitcom that will make you roar with laughter, and marvel at Mike Bubbins’ fantastic wardrobe. First and foremost this is a comedy, but its also got plenty of heart with family and friendship at its core, and at the end of the day, we need stuff that cheers us up now more than ever.
"When I first saw Mike Bubbins do his Tom Jones impression many years ago I knew that one day we would be friends. Mike is a joy to work with on set, he is so generous and kind and really pulled the cast together. Lovely Joel plays my son in the programme, and I had also recently worked with his dad in real life so we instantly had a connection. I therefore felt like it was my duty to mother and look after him on set. Not quite sure how he felt about that but because he is so sweet he humoured me and went along with it anyway. He is a hugely talented young actor and I loved our scenes together. My scenes were mainly with Mike and Joel but the whole cast including Joseph, Mali and Will were gorgeous and we had a lovely time."
* Sian Gibson became a TV favourite after her endearing turn from 2015 in BBC comedy Car Share alongside Peter Kay. She’s since had roles in The Power of Parker, Murder, They Hope, The Reluctant Landlord, After Ever After and Murder on the Blackpool Express.
Who else is starring in Mammoth?
The remaining main cast of Mammoth includes Joseph Marcell as Roger, who was Tony Mammoth's pal 40 years ago! Mali Ann Rees plays Lucy, the head of PE at the school Tony Mammoth returns to. Joel Davison plays Mel's son Theo.
Joseph Marcell says of his character Roger: "He’s a bit of a curmudgeon. He was Mammoth’s friend 40 years ago, they were teachers together and very close friends. They went off on a trip and they meet again 40 years later, but Mammoth is still much younger and Roger is a senior citizen shall we say! Rogers is pleasant but I think there are moments of great envy at the fact that although Mammoth is out of time, he is still younger than Roger and that sometimes irritates him."
Mammoth episode guide
Here's a brief guide to the three episodes of Mammoth...
Episode 1
PE teacher Tony Mammoth is brought back from the dead, having beem buried in an avalanche while on a school ski trip in 1979. He then gets his old job back, approaching things the same way as the 1970s, including parents evening. Along the way, he finds out he has a lot more in common with a pupil’s mum Mel than he thought.
Episode 2
Reeling from some recent news that drops a bombshell on his life, Tony Mammoth tries to make up for lost time. Despite his best efforts though, things don’t go to plan and he and Theo end up in a fight with a stranger. Meanwhile his boss, Lucy, has to fight off the local oddballs looking to donate to help her fertility treatment.
Episode 3
Following the death of his old friend, and pub landlord , Barry, Mammoth decides it’s time to find someone special to spend the rest of his life with. He soon finds out that it’s hard to date in the modern world so he has to quickly learn the contemporary dos and don’ts. He soon hits it off with someone but manages to blow it in pure Tony Mammoth style— dead rabbit and all!
Behind the scenes and more on Mammoth
Mammoth is a BBC Studios Comedy production for BBC Wales and BBC iPlayer, created by and starring Mike Bubbins and co-written with Paul Doolan. It was commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy and Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning, BBC Wales. The Executive Producers are Josh Cole and Steven Canny, the Producer is Luke Mason. The BBC Commissioning Editors are Seb Barwell and Paul Forde.
Paul Forde, Commissioning Editor for Comedy, BBC Wales, says: “We’re thrilled that a brand-new series of Mammoth is coming to our screens, set to entertain audiences across the UK. It’s a great premise for a show and we know that audiences will love watching Tony Mammoth struggling to come to terms with his predicament.”
