The BBC has released first-look images for the third series of the Welsh comedy Mammoth, created by and starring Mike Bubbins. The show, which features actors from Car Share and Death Valley, will return early next year.
New guest stars join the cast
Joining series three as guest artists are Elizabeth Berrington (Tip Toe, Good Omens), Freddie Meredith (Saturday Night Live UK, Such Brave Girls, Youth) and Mark Benton (Smoggie Queens, Patience).
Bubbins plays Tony Mammoth, a PE teacher accidentally frozen in 1979 who is getting a second chance at life, though he believes he largely got it right the first time.
Returning favourites and new storylines
Car Share star Sian Gibson returns as his daughter Mel, who faces the prospect of her son Theo (Joel Davidson) heading off to university. Joseph Marcell of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is back as Mammoth's long-suffering friend Roger, and Death Valley actor John Weldon reprises his role as head teacher Mr Cowley.
The new series sees Mammoth finding romance with Jo (Berrington), a no-nonsense police officer. Meredith joins as Lucas, Mammoth's new talent agent, who lures him back into the celebrity world. Benton plays Roy, Mammoth's fellow teacher and new best mate, with the pair bonding over their shared love of bunking off school and taking it easy.
Mammoth also has his day in court when he takes on the council over his home spa, while an unscheduled school trip to the Wimbledon men's semi-final becomes one to remember for all the wrong reasons.
Viewer reactions to series one
The new five-part series, set and filmed in and around Cardiff, is made by BBC Studios Comedy for BBC iPlayer, BBC Two and BBC One Wales. When the first series was released, viewers took to Reddit to share their thoughts.
One posted: "Watched it all in one sitting, it's funny. It's gentle comedy. Nothing to get too precious about." A second commented: "I thought it was ace. Its a gentle tv comedy had me cracking up quite a bit. Not everything has to be edgy or overly clever. I could definitely see myself watching more episodes. It reminded me of demolition man."
Another shared: "I think it's one of the better things to come out in recent years." A fourth added: "One of the funniest shows I've seen in a while. Need more episodes. Felt like it ended too early."
One viewer wrote: "I liked it. I would have liked the first episode to be more about his discovery as it seems we kind of jumped in at episode 3. But I thought the premise is good, the jokes landed well and I'm looking forward to watching the rest of it."
Series one and two of Mammoth are now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
