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April 4th, 2016 28 comments

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BBC Three Announce Cast for Doctor Who spin off – Class

“Time has looked at your faces now. And time never forgets…”

What if your planet was massacred and you were the sole survivor?

What if a legendary figure out of space and time found you a place to hide?

But what if the things that want to kill you have tracked you down?

And worst of all, what if you haven’t studied for your A-Levels…?

On the first day of term, BBC Three today announce the stars of the Doctor Who spin-off series Class – exciting young new talents Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah. They will be joined by Katherine Kelly, as she takes the role of a teacher and powerful new presence at Coal Hill School.

class-cast

To celebrate today’s announcements we’ve created a special video from set – you can Meet the cast of Class in 360°!

Like all sixth formers, these four Coal Hill School students have hidden secrets and desires. They are facing their own worst fears, navigating a life of friends, parents, school work, sex, sorrow – and possibly the end of existence.

Coal Hill School has been a part of the Doctor Who Universe since the very beginning, but that has come at a price. All the time travelling over the years has caused the very walls of space and time to become thin. There’s something pressing in on the other side, something waiting for its chance to kill everyone and everything, to bring us all into Shadow.

Fear is coming, tragedy is coming, war is coming. Prepare yourselves, Class is coming.

Award winning YA writer and Class creator Patrick Ness, says:

“We searched far and wide for this amazing cast, fantastic actors who understand what we’re aiming for with this show. And how lucky we are to get Katherine Kelly! She’s been stunning in Happy Valley, The Night Manager and Mr Selfridge, just wait until you see her here.”

Steven Moffat, Class and Doctor Who Executive Producer, says:

“There’s nothing more exciting than meeting stars that nobody’s heard of yet. We had the read through of the first few episodes last week, and there was a whole row of them. Coal Hill School has been part of Doctor Who since the very first shoot in 1963, but this new show is anything but history. Class is dark and sexy and right now. I’ve always wondered if there could be a British Buffy – it’s taken the brilliant Patrick Ness to figure out how to make it happen.”

Class is a YA series set in contemporary London. It is scary, funny, and as painful and sharp as youth. It will also shine a light on a whole new corner of the Whoniverse.

Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three, adds:

“I can’t wait for Class to arrive on BBC Three. BBC Three will always back best young British talent.”

From Writer Patrick Ness, Director Ed Bazalgette (Poldark, Doctor Who), Producer Derek Ritchie, and Executive Producers Patrick Ness, Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, the BBC Cymru Wales production, co-produced with BBC America and BBC Worldwide, starts filming today and will premiere on BBC Three this year.

Further casting will be announced in due course.


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28 comments

  • DOCTORWHOFAN1

    August 18th, 2016 - 4:10pm

    Also the Shadow is coming though the cracks in space and time left by the TARDIS and the trickster came through the cracks in time made when Sarah Jane Smith saves her parents in The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith.Also as the Shadow will be involved with Coal Hill “Academy” which has a bit to do with the life of the Doctor, could the Shadow (or the trickster hopefully) be using Coal Hill to get at the Doctor.

  • DOCTORWHOFAN1

    August 18th, 2016 - 4:04pm

    Does anybody think the Shadow could be the trickster as the trickster dresses in black robes that are dark like shadows where he also likes to stay (in the shadows). Furthermore the actor Paul Marc Davies (who played the trickster in the Sarah Jane Adventures: Whatever happened to Sarah Jane?, The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith and The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith- would of in The Battle of Bannerman Road (if it was made)) is starring in Class.
    Any thoughts?

  • Anonymous

    August 14th, 2016 - 7:14pm

    I would like references to the Sarah Jane adventures too!

  • Larry

    July 22nd, 2016 - 9:03pm

    Will there be any mention about Sarah Jane Smith and her gang of young companions? What has happened to “Mr Smith” and K9?

  • Richard Brophy

    July 4th, 2016 - 7:49pm

    will watch this on catch up on my tv!

  • fiona ting

    May 20th, 2016 - 8:54am

    I think this new spin off is good for younger people to watch

    after school

  • Ludo

    May 13th, 2016 - 7:30pm

    It is going to be repeated on BBC One

  • Phil

    May 1st, 2016 - 9:06am

    This looks like Saved by the bell mixed with Scooby do rather than Doctor who

  • The Surgeon

    April 10th, 2016 - 11:26am

    I’m really looking forward to this. Patrick Ness is one of the greatest writers I know of, so there’s no reason this should be written off.

  • A

    April 9th, 2016 - 10:06pm

    I agree with all of the above. If it turns up on proper tv, I’ll give it a chance, but I can’t be bothered with online entertainment.

  • Hector Sandler

    April 8th, 2016 - 5:51am

    The girl sitting the middle is very beautiful

  • the ergon

    April 7th, 2016 - 10:02am

    Katherine kellys a terrific actress and from my neck of the woods. I actually thought some time ago that she would have made a good ‘rani ‘ or would add some glamour as a future companion. I,d like to think the character crossing over into regular who since coal is used quite regular in the current series.

  • Ian

    April 5th, 2016 - 9:23am

    Are they going to explain why Clara is no loner in the school? Rather a spin off with either Strax, Vastra and Jenny or the 8th Doctor.
    Time will tell, always does if this will be any good.

  • Anonymous

    April 5th, 2016 - 8:34am

    Luckily I have very low expectations for this that I’m not even excited for it. It could be absolutely fantastic & really stand out when we get the chance to see it or it could be totally dross so no loss either way.

  • Anonymous

    April 5th, 2016 - 8:31am

    & the future is terrible

  • T4RD1S

    April 5th, 2016 - 12:39am

    I like the sound of it so far! Can’t wait

  • Anonymous

    April 4th, 2016 - 11:19pm
  • Anonymous

    April 4th, 2016 - 11:17pm

    It’s the future

  • The super whovian

    April 4th, 2016 - 8:24pm

    It will not be the same not watching it on tv

  • The super whovian

    April 4th, 2016 - 8:21pm

    Sounds interesting I can only really decide if I think it will be good or not until I see a trailer but I have hope that this can be a very interesting spin off.

  • Thewhoman

    April 4th, 2016 - 4:38pm

    Looks good so far… Aswell “to bring us all into Shadow” capital S? Is that a name?

  • Whovastron

    April 4th, 2016 - 4:15pm

    I’m imagining Skins with Aliens, which sounds amazing to be honest.

    TW.

  • Dalekparadigm2

    April 4th, 2016 - 4:11pm

    This looks good. Really wish BBC 3 was still on TV

  • Class Crazy Ross

    April 4th, 2016 - 2:27pm

    Get a grip. Give it a chance.

  • JasonisnotaRobot

    April 4th, 2016 - 1:20pm

    Got quite high hopes for this, hope its good if its all the Doctor Who related television we are getting this year except for the Christmas special.

  • GallifreyanKnight

    April 4th, 2016 - 1:08pm

    Oh, they’re still making this “Grange Hill with aliens” thing then…

    Ugh.

  • starshipalaska

    April 4th, 2016 - 12:45pm

    Actually looks quite promising.

  • Class Crazy Ross

    April 4th, 2016 - 12:34pm

    Omg I love Katherine Kelly and the cast are just beautiful, sooo excited for this

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