Mammoth Christmas Special brings Tony Mammoth, the beloved 1970s PE teacher frozen in an avalanche and thawed into contemporary life, back to BBC Two for a festive adventure marking his first Christmas since his resurrection in 2024. Mike Bubbins reprises his iconic role as Tony, attempting to create “a special Christmas” for his family while battling his characteristic thoughtlessness and selfishness that threaten to derail the celebrations. The 30-minute special features Sian Gibson as his daughter Mel (navigating complex emotions at a homeless shelter), Joseph Marcell as his long-suffering best friend Roger (now functioning as his fitness trainer), Joel Davison as grandson Theo (celebrating a milestone birthday), and John Weldon as Headteacher Mr Cowley.
Airing on BBC Two at 10:00 PM on Monday, December 1st, 2025 (just after the series premiere), the special represents a significant moment for the show’s emotional and thematic development, exploring how Tony’s fundamental character—frozen in 1979 values and perspectives—navigates contemporary family dynamics during the season emphasizing connection, generosity, and emotional authenticity.
Tony Mammoth: Character, Concept, and Cultural Context
Tony Mammoth, the protagonist and creative vision of Mike Bubbins, represents a genuinely innovative comedic premise with surprising emotional resonance. The character—a PE teacher from 1979 trapped in an avalanche while supervising a school skiing trip, preserved perfectly in ice, and revived in January 2024—embodies the fish-out-of-water comedy tradition while exploring deeper themes about generational difference, nostalgia, and human adaptation.
The Creative Inspiration: According to Bubbins, the character emerged from childhood fascination with science fiction (particularly Buck Rogers), combined with his desire to “portray a decade I love in a modern context.” Rather than pure escapism, Bubbins wanted to explore how someone frozen in the 1970s might navigate contemporary society—creating comedy from genuine cultural collision rather than mere period costume novelty.
The Character’s Appeal: Audiences connect with Tony because, as Bubbins explains: “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.”
This observation captures something profound—Tony represents beloved figures whose values, perspectives, and social skills belong to a different era. The comedy emerges not from cruelty but from recognition of genuine generational difference and the difficulty of genuine connection across temporal divides.
The Christmas Special’s Emotional Premise: Family Dysfunction and Redemption
“It’s Tony Mammoth’s first Christmas since coming back from the dead and he’s determined to make it a special one with his family.” This deceptively simple premise carries significant emotional complexity. Tony’s determination—driven by his characteristic selfishness—creates inevitable conflict as his efforts to make his vision of a special Christmas clash with family members’ actual needs and perspectives.
The Narrative Threads:
Tony’s Selfishness Undermines Celebration: Through thoughtlessness and self-centeredness, Tony approaches ruining Christmas for himself and his family. The comedy emerges from watching someone genuinely trying to create something meaningful while completely misunderstanding what family members actually need from the experience.
Mel’s Emotional Complexity: Meanwhile, Tony’s daughter Mel—dealing with career uncertainty and emotional complexity—attempts to contain her anger toward “a perfectly nice woman at the homeless shelter.” This suggests Mel is channeling her own frustration and control issues into social work, creating internal conflict between her genuine compassion and her emotional defensiveness.
Theo’s Milestone Celebration: Mel’s son Theo celebrates a significant birthday, introducing additional emotional weight. The milestone birthday—coinciding with Christmas—creates traditional comedy about mismatched generational celebration approaches while also raising genuine questions about family connection and continuity across time.
Romantic Possibility for Theo: The special hints that “love is in the air for Theo,” suggesting romantic subplot and possibility of emotional growth beyond family dysfunction.
This multi-threaded approach ensures the special maintains both comedy rooted in character and genuine emotional stakes, balancing laughter with authentic feeling.
The Supporting Cast: Character Depth and Actor Contributions
Sian Gibson (Mel) – Known for Car Share and The Power of Parker, Gibson brings warmth and vulnerability to Mel’s complex emotional landscape. Her chemistry with Bubbins reportedly generates substantial on-set laughter. According to Gibson: “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.”
Joseph Marcell (Roger) – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air veteran brings credibility and warmth to Tony’s long-suffering best friend. In the Christmas special and broader series, Roger has evolved from friend to fitness trainer—a development that allows comedic chemistry (the fit, contemporary man training the outdated PE teacher) while maintaining genuine affection.
Joel Davison (Theo) – Playing Mel’s son and Tony’s grandson, Davison brings youthful energy and genuine comedic talent. According to Bubbins: “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.”
John Weldon (Mr Cowley) – As the Headteacher confronting Tony’s continued employment as a PE teacher, Weldon provides institutional authority and comedic friction.
Production and Thematic Context: BBC Wales Comedy Investment
Mammoth represents significant BBC Wales (BBC Cymru Wales) and BBC Studios Comedy investment in distinctive British comedy. The show’s success—critical and commercial—has resulted in series two and the Christmas special, affirming BBC commitment to character-driven comedy over formulaic entertainment.
Production Details:
- Format: 1 x 30-minute special (part of series two launch)
- Created by: Mike Bubbins
- Co-written with: Paul Doolan, Luke Mason
- Producer: Luke Mason
- Director: Akaash Meeda
- Commissioning: Jon Petrie (Director of BBC Comedy), Nick Andrews (Head of Commissioning, BBC Cymru Wales)
- Executive Producers: Josh Cole, Steven Canny
- BBC Commissioning Editors: Seb Barwell, Paul Forde
- Narration: Tony Blackburn (iconic BBC Radio 1 personality, age 82)
The inclusion of Tony Blackburn as narrator (doing the title sequence voiceover) represents genuine star power—an actual 1970s cultural icon providing voice to a show about 1970s cultural persistence and obsolescence.
Broadcast Context: Series Two Launch Window
Mammoth Christmas Special arrives as part of series two’s premiere day on Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 10:00 PM on BBC Two. The series includes four 30-minute episodes (reportedly three regular episodes plus the Christmas special), suggesting the special’s strategic placement within the series structure.
This scheduling—Christmas special alongside series launch—captures holiday audiences while introducing the show to potential new viewers, maximizing cultural reach and audience acquisition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Mammoth Christmas Special air?
Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 10:00 PM on BBC Two (immediately after the series premiere).
Who stars in the special?
Mike Bubbins (Tony Mammoth), Sian Gibson (Mel), Joseph Marcell (Roger), Joel Davison (Theo), John Weldon (Mr Cowley).
What is the premise of Mammoth?
Tony Mammoth, a 1970s PE teacher, is thawed from ice after being frozen in an avalanche in 1979. Now in the 2020s, he attempts to rebuild his life while navigating contemporary society.
Why is this Tony’s first Christmas since “coming back from the dead”?
Tony was discovered and revived in January 2024. This Christmas special (airing December 2025) represents his first full holiday season since his resurrection.
Who created Mammoth?
Mike Bubbins created the character and series, inspired by science fiction concepts (particularly Buck Rogers) and his desire to explore how 1970s perspectives might navigate contemporary life.
When does series two air?
Series two launches Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 10:00 PM on BBC Two, with the Christmas special following immediately after the series premiere.
Can I stream after broadcast?
Yes, the special will be available on BBC iPlayer for on-demand viewing following initial broadcast.
What is different about series two?
Series two sees Mel considering career change, Theo celebrating a milestone birthday, and Roger taking on the new role of Tony’s fitness trainer—suggesting character development and evolving dynamics
