Writer (with Paul Doolan) and star of Mammoth Mike Bubbins was clearly born in the wrong decade. From his luxuriant Magnum moustache to his python skin boots he's the 1970s unreconstructed male personified. I bet he smells of Brut. Actually I'm talking about the character Tony Mammoth, a 1970s PE teacher brought back to life in 2025, but in sartorial terms at least I could be talking about Bubbins. In interviews he has explained that there is a very thin line between Mammoth's Speedos and kimono wardrobe and his own.

And Bubbins certainly makes the most of being a man out of time in the first episode of this second series. There's a great gag early on when he's on hold on the phone and has to press button five. Needless to say his old school landline doesn't have buttons it has a dial...

The meat of the episode involves Mammoth – I guess Tony Dinosaur didn't feel quite right – encountering an old rival Terry and wanting to settle a score over a longstanding minor grievance. He spots a chance of revenge when there is an over-70s football match. And before you can say Eye of the Tiger there's a Rocky-style montage of oir hero getting into shape.

Add in some easy gags about his sizeable beer belly (no prosthetics or CGI from what I can tell) and some swimming pool gags based around the no petting, no bombing, no diving rules and you've got a lighthearted sitcom that sends up old school vobes but will also appeal to an old school audience. Sian Gibson offers good support as daughter Mel, Joel Davison plays grandson Theo and there are some lovingly crafted in-jokes, such as the credits done in true glossy seventies mini-series style (Mike Post anyone?). And it is all set in Bubbins' native Wales - is there really an actor called Gareth Bale or was that name in the credits another wink to the camera?

Mammoth, Mondays, 10pm from December 1, BBC Two and on iPlayer.

Pictures: BBC Studios Comedy/Tom Jackson)