FROZEN IN TIME
On the 1970s teacher getting a second chance of life in new comedy Mammoth
Mike Bubbins was a PE teacher for six years and drew on the experience when it came to creating his new comedy Mammoth.
The Welsh comedian, actor and writer plays PE teacher Tony Mammoth in the BBC2 comedy. Mammoth was presumed killed in an Alpine avalanche in 1979 but was then discovered and brought back to life in the present day... returning to his old teaching job.
Mike says: “The school we filmed the Mammoth pilot in was the school I was teaching in before moving into comedy.
“I probably first had the idea of Mammoth around to 10 or 12 years ago, but I’ve always found the frozen in time thing fascinating.”
Mike has fond memories of the late 70s and says: “I was living with my mum, dad and sister 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 prototype Mammoth.
He continues: “I loved, and still love, Kojak, Starsky and Hutch, Columbo, The Professionals, Tom Baker’s Doctor, and Jim Rockford and Colonel Wilma Deering. 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.”
So how would Mike sum up Mammoth? “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.
“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.”
Mammoth also stars Car Share and Power of Parker’s Sian Gibson, who says: “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.”
Sian plays the mother of one of Mammoth’s pupils and says: “It’s a laugh-outloud, 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 it’s 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.”
And is there a 1970s fashion trend Sian would like to make to see a comeback? She laughs: “Being very short, I think that platforms were the best 70s invention ever and should be compulsory daywear.”
■ Mammoth starts on BBC2 on Wednesday at 10pm.