BBC Three has announced work will begin on a brand new Doctor Who Spin-Off from the acclaimed US author Patrick Ness – Class.
Class is a young adult series set in contemporary London. Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected. With all the action, heart and adrenaline of the best YA fiction, 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 story-telling into Doctor Who. This is growing up in modern Britain – but with monsters!”
On his first television series, writer Patrick Ness (the Chaos Walking trilogy) 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.“
Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning adds: “I am thrilled that Patrick Ness is writing his first drama series for BBC3. The combination of Patrick and Steven Moffat, is an exciting partnership that has created a brilliant Doctor Who spin off for our BBC3 audience.”
We here at THN are intrigued, to say the least. Coal Hill School is a location often visited in Doctor Who, featuring in the very first episode of the series (An Unearthly Child, 1963) right up to present day, with the school serving as the workplace of current companion Clara Oswald, who works there as a teacher. Whether any existing characters from Doctor Who will appear in the series is yet to be announced, though we can certainly expect some more surprises as the show nears production.
Class is executive produced by Steven Moffatt, Patrick Ness and Brian Minchin. It was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three and Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning. An 8 x 45 minute series produced by BBC Cymru Wales will film in and around Wales from Spring 2016 and be on air next year.
