Mammoth

Arriving largely without fanfare, I caught this show on iPlayer. Interesting show which plays to a large extent as a drama with the 'back from the dead' storyline largely in the back ground. Indeed you see nothing of Mammoth's return from the dead but catch up with him a few months later. The 'fish out of water' plot has been done many times before and this show offers no real new twists. However, it does have heart and offers a few laughs along the way. Hopefully it will get a series.

The premise for this show is simple. PE teacher Tony Mammoth is frozen in ice during a school ski trip in the 70's and gets brought back to life in the modern day. Mammoth returns to his job as a PE teacher but it's full of fish out of water moments as he tries to get used to the new way of things. Bubbins (who also wrote the script) is wonderfully understated as the titular star and delivers the punch lines with little fanfare but lots of laughs. The supporting cast is brilliant, but this is very much Bubbins show and plays it to perfection. Currently there's only 3 episodes but I'm sure this'll go on to be a hit and get commissioned with a 2nd series.

Only reviewing this to comment on a review below from Shade Grenade. What the f is wrong with you? Did you have a bad childhood or are you simply still a child? Such a damning review with hypercritical tendencies I feel sure you are damaged and need help!

My review is simply, this is a cracking shoe with good comedic references. I mean it's not side splitting stuff but just good clean harmless fun, I will never understand these weird reviews that must somehow make people feel like they are some over paid Hollywood critic.

Just calm down, sit in a darkened room, cry a little and then go out and make some real friends, this life is going to be tough with an attitude like that!

I don't think many could capture the essence of the 1970's through the lens of a macho sexist PE teacher better than Mike Bubbins managed to achieve in this mini series. There were many genuine laugh out loud moments and some wonderful hillarious situations created by the writers. As someone who went to school in a Welsh comp in the 70's this was nostalgic and very funny. Bubbins seems a late bloomer and it is such a shame he wasn't recognised sooner because he has a rare and unique talent and is clearly a man who would have thrived had he been born several decades earlier. I hope this improves his profile and we see more of him in the future.

His character is brilliantly done - very funny and retro and lovingly out of touch and relatable (and cheesy) Let's be honest - everybody of a certain age had a gym teacher just like him lol

music is great - perfect placement - can't wait for more.