Imagine dozing off in 1979 and waking up nearly half a century later. This is the surreal premise behind Mammoth, the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom that has turned Welsh actor and comedian Mike Bubbins into a cult television sensation.
From the Playing Field to the Screen
Bubbins, a former PE teacher himself, draws heavily on his own background for the show. He plays Tony Mammoth, a Welsh PE teacher cryogenically frozen in an avalanche in 1979 who thaws out in 2024. The character returns to a teaching job he technically never left, navigating a world dramatically changed from the one he knew.
"It's like my dad and his friends," Bubbins explains, drawing a parallel to the character's old-fashioned charm. "Maybe they don't quite understand the way things are now, but they're good people and are doing their best. Well, that's Mammoth. My dad's had 50 years to adjust. Imagine going to sleep in 1979 and waking up in 2024."
The show, which the Guardian described as "like a Facebook group about the good old days," offers a gentle humour. Unlike the cringe-worthy David Brent from The Office—a stated influence—Mammoth's outdated advice, like insisting on keeping car engines running, is excused by his 70s-centric worldview.
A Life in Retro Style
The parallels between the actor and his character don't end with their profession. A visit to Bubbins's home in Cardiff reveals a man whose love for the 1970s is utterly genuine. His house features retro wallpaper, vintage orange plastic furniture, and a garage converted into a pub complete with rugby shirts and a pool table.
His iconic moustache, untouched for 15 years, is another testament to his 70s allegiance. "Growing up, all the people I admired like Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck had a moustache," he says. What started as a novelty for a Welsh 1970s rugby-themed stag night became a permanent fixture after a friend convinced him it could be an asset, not a hindrance, to his career.
This authenticity sometimes leads to confusion with fans. "People say: 'Do you think they'll let you keep the car?'" he laughs, referring to his character's beloved 1977 Mark II 1.3 Capri. "It's my car!" He was even once asked on the tube if he was filming because he was "in costume." His reply? "I'm not in costume. I'm just wearing my clothes."
An Accidental Foray into Comedy
Bubbins's path to comedy was unplanned. Disenchanted with teaching in his mid-30s, he initially sent scripts to the BBC Writers' Room. The break came when he accidentally attended a stand-up comedy workshop a week early. With a background in performing music covers in south Wales clubs, he felt comfortable on stage.
"I put a thing on Facebook," he recalls. "A fellow with a club in Newport got in touch, and two weeks later, I was doing my first gig. A year later, I was doing Edinburgh."
This led to podcasting success during the Covid pandemic. Along with fellow comic Elis James and journalist Steff Garrero, he launched The Socially Distant Sports Bar, which is now approaching its 300th episode. The idea for Mammoth was born backstage at a comedy festival, crystallising when he wondered how to play a classic 70s PE teacher in a modern setting. The solution was cryogenic freezing.
Celebrating the 70s, Sidestepping the Pitfalls
While the show is a love letter to the era, Bubbins and co-writer Paul Doolan were careful to avoid glorifying its less savoury aspects. They consciously made Mammoth's best friend, Roger, a Black man (played by Joseph Marcell) to sidestep the racism that plagued some 70s comedy.
"The first thing we did was to make Mammoth's best friend Roger Black – although it's never referenced – to get rid of that horrible bit of the 70s," Bubbins states. Regarding sexism, he clarifies, "Mammoth is old-fashioned, so he would open a door for a woman, but he wouldn't pinch their bum."
Bubbins always envisioned Mammoth as more than a niche Welsh comedy. "I'm proudly Welsh, but I'm not a jingoistic Welsh person," he says. "I wanted to make a comedy with a Welsh crew, Welsh cast, Welsh writers, but I wanted to get away from choirs, farming, rugby and terrace houses." This ambition sometimes caused friction, such as when he had to defend his choice of the Welsh actor Sian Gibson for a role because her accent didn't fit a stereotypical mould.
The show's future looks bright. After a successful pilot in 2021, it earned a three-episode series on BBC Two in 2024. "They only gave me three episodes because I'm a 'new talent' – I was 50," he jokes. A second series of three episodes, plus a Christmas special, is set for December. Furthermore, Bubbins will tour his new standup show, Ideasman, from September 2026.
And the famous moustache? It's staying. "If I had to shave this off, it would have to either be for a really good role, or an advert that paid me a load of money." For now, Mike Bubbins's extended Movember, and his rising star, show no signs of fading.
