A new Doctor Who spinoff is coming.
The forthcoming series, titled Class, hails from best-selling young adult author Patrick Ness, BBC Three announced Thursday.
Set in contemporary London, Class centers on incredible dangers that are breaking through the walls of time and space. With darkness coming, the city is left unprotected. The announcement promises to reveal a side of Doctor Who and Coal Hill School that fans have never seen before.
Ness, whose works include the Chaos Walking trilogy and A Monster Calls, will exec produce the project with longtime Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin. BBC Cymru Wales will produce Class in association with BBC Worldwide for BBC Three. The series will begin filming in and around Wales next spring for a 2016 debut.
“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,” said Moffat in a statement. “This is growing up in modern Britain — but with monsters!”
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Eight 45-minute episodes have been ordered of Class, which marks Ness’ first TV series. His young adult novel of the same name is due out next year.
“I’m astounded and thrilled to be entering the Doctor Who universe, which is as vast as time and space itself,” he said. “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.”
Added BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh: “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.”
This is the fourth Doctor Who spinoff, following Torchwood, which ran for four seasons, the short-lived animated series K-9 and the children’s series The Sarah Jane Adventures, which lasted five seasons. Doctor Who recently kicked off its ninth season on BBC One and BBC America.
