BBC announces Doctor Who spin-off, Class.
New teen series will unravel life growing up in modern Britain - but with monsters.
- Published by David Knox
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A new Doctor Who spin-off has been confirmed by youth-skewed BBC Three.
Class, from young adult author Patrick Ness, will be an 8×45 teen series set in contemporary London.
A BBC release advises, “Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected. With all the action, heart and adrenalin of the best YA fiction (Buffy, Hunger Games), this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you’ve never seen it before.”
Steven Moffat says: “No one has documented the dark and exhilarating world of the teenager like Patrick Ness, and now we’re bringing his brilliant storytelling into Doctor Who. This is growing up in modern Britain – but with monsters!”
On his first television series, writer Patrick Ness says: “I’m astounded and thrilled to be entering the Doctor Who universe, which is as vast as time and space itself. There’s so much room there for all kinds of amazing stories, and to work with Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin to find a place to tell one of my own has been an absolute joy. I can’t wait for people to meet the heroes of Class, to meet the all-new villains and aliens, to remember that the horrors of the darkest corners of existence are just about on par with having to pass your A-Levels.”
Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three, adds: “We’re excited to give Patrick Ness this opportunity to work with us at BBC Three and the Doctor Who family. Patrick understands young audiences and I’m delighted he will use his incredible skills as a storyteller to delight audiences on BBC Three. BBC Three will always innovate and offer opportunities for brilliant new talent.”
Doctor Who has previously spawned spin-offs including Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and K-9.
Class is executive produced by Steven Moffatt, Patrick Ness and Brian Minchin, produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with BBC Worldwide for BBC Three.
The series will film in and around Wales from spring (UK) 2016 and be on air next year.
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- Tagged with Class, Doctor Who, K-9, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood
10 Responses
I have been watching a lot of Degrassi lately on iview and I get the sense that Class is going to be like Degrassi, Doctor Who-style.
Or perhaps “Press Gang” — Moffat’s first TV show.
Which was/is, BTW, awesome.
Can someone please explain the connection to the Whoniverse, other than the writing team? Would the Doctor make a fleeting fly through or something?
Coal Hill School, where it will be set, is where a whole lot of characters from Dr Who have come from. Susan, the Doctors granddaughter, her teachers Ian and Barbara were all from Coal Hill. In more recent time we have had Coal Hill Student, Courtney, Teacher Danny Pink and a whole class of gifted students board the TARDIS. Even Clara, the current companion teaches at Coal Hill.
That helps, thanks!
Gotcha! Thanks a mill for that! 🙂
I’m, isn’t BBC3 being axed completely? Hence no more In the Flesh.
Moving online with a smaller budget, not axed. Awaiting final approval.
Sounds like it’s based on Ness’ latest book, about the students over a hellmouth who aren’t the heroes. It’s all very Buffy. Still, if it’s done well, more Buffy is a good thing. And Moffat is a genius so if he stays closely involved for the initial series while Ness gets used to working in TV, we should be right.
Hmmm… Haven’t read any of his YA stuff, but his short stories I’ve read have been pretty good (and I thought at the time some would make good TV one-offs, in a slightly Black Mirror-ish way).
It’ll be interesting to see if the series can escape Moffatt’s Hand of Dazzling Mediocrity…