Mammoth is back. The hit comedy about PE teacher Tony Mammoth, thought to have perished in an avalanche during a school trip in 1979 and getting a second chance at life, returns to BBC Two and iPlayer on Monday 1 December at 10pm. Or maybe we should say Mammoth is Bach, given how Welsh it all is.
Mike Bubbins (Death Valley, The Socially Distant Sports Bar podcast) is Tony Mammoth, Sian Gibson (Car Share, The Power of Parker) is Tony’s daughter Mel who is thinking about a career change, Joel Davison is Mel’s son Theo who celebrates a milestone birthday, Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) is Mammoth’s long-suffering best friend Roger who takes on a new role as Tony’s fitness trainer, and John Weldon (The Tuckers) is Headteacher Mr Cowley.
Joining the cast for series two are Al Roberts (Stath Lets Flats, Starstruck) as Mel’s new love interest Matthew and Dylan Malyn (To Kill a Mockingbird, Lost Boys and Fairies) as Nathan, Mel’s nephew, and new boss.
Interview with Mike Bubbins (Tony Mammoth)
Tony Mammoth is back! Where do we find Mammoth at the start of the new series?
We find Mammoth settling into family life as a dad to Mel and a grandad to Theo and a best friend of Roger.
What can viewers expect from Tony in series 2?
Viewers can expect to see him trying to get match fit, in a bromance with Mel’s new boyfriend, locking horns with an adversary from the 70’s, being a protective father, a substandard work colleague and a quite frankly disappointing head of department.
The response to the first series was great, what do you think it is about Tony Mammoth and the series that audiences warmed to?
I think everybody knows a Tony Mammoth or someone very similar. Because he’s been stuck under the snow for 45 years, he’s everyone’s granddad, or dad if you’re middle-aged. You love them but you wish they’d keep some things to themselves. There’s a Tony in everybody's life, growing up it might have been a teacher; or a work colleague or family member you will know.
He’s relatable and I’m biased because I love him, but I’d say Mammoth is likable. He's a nice bloke who says the wrong stuff, trying to do the right things but using the wrong methods.
There are some real laugh out loud moments in Mammoth, what’s your favourite episode or memory from the new series?
There’s a bromance montage with Al Roberts who plays Matthew, Mel’s new boyfriend, which was very funny to do. We got to take polaroids together, hang out in an art class, throw Frisbee and cycling in my double denim! Riding speed boats in Cardiff Bay and the football training sequences were also a lot of fun.
I think everyone has raised the bar in this series. Sian who plays my daughter Mel is very funny and we made each other corpse quite a bit while filming. I got to hang out more with Joel who plays my grandson Theo and we bonded; he’s such a nice fella and interesting funny bloke. When I look at the montage sequences and the credits which are a nod to the 70s and 80s, I can't believe this is my job, I can’t believe I do this for a living.
Have you had any viewers approach you in the street to talk about the show and what they love about it?
I was in Scotland at a BBC Comedy event and a chap in the bar told me how much he loved Mammoth and asked me to buy him a pint! A woman on the tube in London told me how much she enjoyed Mammoth, she thought I was on my way to filming until I explained this is what I wear in real life. Because Mammoth’s wardrobe and my wardrobe are probably 95% similar and his look is 100% my look, I get spotted a lot. My moustache is very distinctive, and people spot the moustache and see the face and put two and two together. It’s like having a flashing beacon under my nose.
If you could bring any 1970s icons back to life – fictional or real - to appear in the series, who would it be?
Burt Reynolds, 100%! I absolutely love Burt Reynolds. We did try and get Tom Jones for this series, but he was on tour, so I would love Tom Jones to be in it, and Billie Jean King would be brilliant because of the reference in the first series.
Talking of icons, DJ and broadcasting legend Tony Blackburn provides the voice over for the title sequence in the new series. How was it working with Tony?
Tony was brilliant, an absolute pro. We met in this little mews recording studio in London and we’d booked him for an hour and were finished in about 15 minutes. 82 years old and he is so sharp, he did everything in one take. He’s the perfect voice intro for Mammoth.
What are your fashion favourites from the new series, do you still have a big input in the style featured in the show?
It’s got to be the double denim! Denim shirt/jacket with zipper and denim jeans. Lindsay who does the costume on Mammoth is a genius, I also really love a red and black snakeskin shirt which she found, it was a bit tight for me, but she sewed in some panels to make it look even better and fit me. We work really well together, swapping intel on cool places to buy 70’s clothes. I provide some of my clothes and Lindsay sources the others. It’s great fun and refreshing for costume to get away from grey and navy and work with florals and paisleys, flares and velvet.
Where would you like to take the character of Mammoth in the future?
I'd love to take him abroad, I think he's a Torremolinos man through and through. I want him to experience more stuff and take him to more places. I was thinking his grandson Theo might go off to university, with Mammoth getting involved there and I can see Mel’s character expanding her life a bit more. Mammoth is a situation comedy, so Mammoth getting into situations is where the fun is.
What do you hope audiences will love or take away from Tony and Mammoth?
Number one is that he’s funny and makes people laugh. If there is a lesson in Mammoth, and I try not to make it too preachy, is ‘don't worry so much’, it’s a big part of Mammoth’s character. Don’t worry about people being different to you and not understanding things. It’s OK not to know and to change your mind. Mammoth is very black and white about things, he either thinks you’re a berk or you're OK and more than anything else with Mammoth, it's fine not to understand stuff and people doing things that you don’t really get, just don't worry about it. I think we could all be a bit more Tony Mammoth.
Interview with Sian Gibson (Mel)
L-R: Mammoth (Mike Bubbins), Mel (Sian Gibson) and Matthew (Al Roberts)
Where do we find Mel at the start of the new series?
At the start of the series Mammoth sets Mel’s house on fire with a chip pan, so Mel and her son Theo have no choice but to move in with Mammoth. As you can imagine, this is far from ideal for Mel. She’s a bit of a control freak and likes things to be done her way. She is very easily influenced though and soon starts taking advice from her dad which doesn’t always go to plan.
The response to the first series was great, what do you think makes the series so popular with audiences?
I think no matter what age you are, everyone knows a Tony Mammoth. So many people stop me and say Mammoth is just like “my old teacher” or “like my dad” or “like my boss”. I love that it’s just silly and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s laugh out loud funny but still has lots of warmth and heart with family and friendship at its core.
How do we see Mel's relationship with her son Theo develop in series 2?
Mel is quite overbearing and completely smothers poor Theo. She won’t let him grow up and wants him to forever be her little boy. As the series develops, Theo starts to stand up for himself a bit more with Mammoth's influence. Mel reluctantly has to give him more independence. Not without a fight though.
Mel has a new love interest Matthew, played by Al Roberts (Stath Lets Flats). How does that play out?
I was very excited when Mike told me about the idea of a new love interest. However, in true Mammoth style, love doesn’t really blossom for poor Mel, and Matthew has more of a romantic connection/bromance with Mammoth. They are more well suited though to be honest and the scenes between Mammoth and Matthew are hilarious.
What’s it like working with Mike and the rest of the cast?
Wonderful. It’s a joy working with Mike and all the cast the crew in Cardiff. I had such a great time on the first series I was so pleased that we got to do it all again for series 2. There is never a dull moment on set.
What’s your favourite episode of the new series?
Christmas. I love Christmas and it’s so exciting to be doing a Christmas Special on the BBC. It’s a brilliant episode too. It’s still very funny with all the usual jokes and mishaps but with a sprinkle of Christmas magic. Lots of tinsel, turkey and itchy Christmas jumpers. That being said, we filmed it in July when it was a very hot and sticky 30 degrees in Cardiff, the Christmas jumpers and mince pies weren’t that much fun then.
What’s your funniest memory from the new series?
We always had a great laugh on set and Mike knows just how to make me giggle and get me in trouble, so I have lots of really funny memories. There was one particular day when we were filming the Christmas episode where he making me laugh behind the camera on purpose. I am a terrible giggler, so it took a long time to get through that scene.
Who would you bring back from the 70s - fictional or real - to appear in the show?
ABBA. They could just sing in the corner. If they don't fancy it, we could just use the holograms.
Pictures: BBC Studios Comedy/Tom Jackson)
Interview suppied by publicists
