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Doctor Who Spinoff ‘Class’ set for BBC 3 and BBC America this year

January 10th, 2016 by Irwin Fletcher Comments

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Doctor Who seems to have been in the news quite a bit recently. With Moffat now actively seeking his replacement, take this information as you will *insert cheering here*, and Capaldi contemplating his departure it’s certainly a turbulent time for Doctor Who.

However, there is some news that has slipped away from most people. The new spin off series ‘Class’ is coming this year. In the UK BBC 3 will air the eight episode show and BBC America will air it for the US.

Shot in Wales and helmed by author Patrick Ness the series has been described by some as a similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer or The Hunger Games.

Set in contemporary London the spin-off is described as follows: “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… this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you’ve never seen them before.”

Ness himself commented on the show, stating how privileged he is to be part of the Doctor who universe: “There’s so much room there for all kinds of amazing stories,” he said “and to work with Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin… 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”

Class will use characters never seen before in Doctor Who, basing itself more around the horrors of London than anything else. Although it’s likely the Doctor may show up from time to time.

I have strange feelings about this. I admit we don’t know much about it yet but with BBC 3 going online it’s a very surprising position for the BBC to put it on there. Admittedly BBC 3 was the place for programmes like this, with Being Human, In the Flesh and even Torchwood for a while, airing on the channel. However, online is one of those areas that could do badly and for a fanbase such as Doctor Who’s it’s unclear how effective that will be.

Furthermore there have already been 2 spin-offs for Doctor Who; one sadly got cancelled because Elizabeth Sladen from ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ died, but the other, Torchwood, designed for the same adult/young adult demographic as Class was cancelled for its lack of interest and low viewership. Is this likely to happen to Class? I guess time will only tell.

Source: Screencrush

I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.