September 7th, 2017
60 comments
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Doctor Who Spin off Class Officially Cancelled
Doctor Who spin off Class has been officially cancelled by the BBC.
The news was confirmed by BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh speaking today at a Broadcasting Press Guild.
No, [we’re not bringing it back]. There was nothing wrong with it – I thought Patrick did a great job, he explored an amazing world.
In honesty, it just didn’t really land for us on BBC Three. Things sometimes don’t, and I’ve got to make decisions about what we’re going to do from a drama point of view.
There are always times when you do something and you have to decide that it’s not going to come back. Class is just one of those things.
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The Drums The Never Ending Drum Beat
September 25th, 2017 - 7:13pmI don’t think class was as bad as everybody said it was to be entirely honest it was not as good as some way of expected however when I first tuned I thought it was good so this is kind of put a damper on my day only that the community of Doctor Who have gotten a little bit out of hand recently they don’t give anything a chance like with the paradigm Daleks everybody complains how multicoloured they were but if they have just give them a chance they wouldn’t have minded it wasn’t a big change and the same with class if we’d have just stayed in the second series then we would have probably been able to judge you if everyone thought it was as bad as the first one then fair enough it should have been cancelled but it could have been better and that is why we need to have a more open mind as a community
Jordan Scott
September 25th, 2017 - 8:09pmYeah I agree with your statement here, especially about the Daleks too
Doctor Stu
September 25th, 2017 - 9:57pmI’m gonna miss Charlie and matteusz, that was the most interesting thing about it tbh and Quill obviously
Adam
September 16th, 2017 - 1:18pmI dipped into the series and thought it was awful! Like a lot of new who it was let down by poor writing and characterisation. Maybe next years new time lady spin off will fare better..
whovian
October 10th, 2017 - 3:00pmTime Lady spin off? Must have missed that announcement
Borg
September 14th, 2017 - 1:38pmYay!!!
Also, as a young adult myself, I heard about it fairly early, was excited, but then episode one comes along… It left me speechless. Not in a god way.
Anonymous
September 12th, 2017 - 5:30pm😉
Anonymous
September 15th, 2017 - 12:40pmThe invisible ink is working well!!!
The Moffat Paradox
September 10th, 2017 - 4:03pmWas underwhelming.
100,000BC
September 9th, 2017 - 12:47pmI think the problem is, as a spin-off of Doctor Who, it needed to appeal to a much larger section of the fanbase.
While in theory non-fans would have enjoyed it, I can imagine they were put off by the promotion of it as a who spin-off, or the appearance of the Doctor in episode 1. If they had chosen to create a spin-off with a Doctor Who character as a lead, then this would have been less of a problem as there would be less need to reinforce the fact of it being a spin-off (in order to appeal to the fan audience) all over the promotional material and in episode 1.
It’s a shame as it was a nice spin-off and a great show in its own right; non-fans could have easily got into it.
Hatman
September 9th, 2017 - 9:53amI really liked Class, and I would’ve liked to see a second series, even if that was the last one just to tie things up, BUT Class suffered from multiple things:
1) Pre show advertising – there was very little of this, most people I know weren’t aware it was happening at all. There should have been more build up, probably some advertising on the tv.
2) Post show advertising – after an episode aired there was almost nothing. On YouTube after an episode of Doctor Who airs we get the next time trailer, and multiple behind-the-scenes videos. This is the same for many tv shows these days. For Class, all we got was ‘Classmates’: a bunch of youtuber fans, most of which I’m guessing people didn’t know who they were (I only knew one of them), giving their very brief reviews on the episode.
3) Online only – This wasn’t too much of an issue, but it did make it seem that maybe it “wasn’t good enough” for tv and was banished to the online realm. This opinion, which I did see floating around quite a lot, was backed up by the fact there was barely any advertising.
4) Doctor Who? – If this had been a standalone sci-fi series on it’s own, it probably would have been okay. HOWEVER, it was labeled a spin off from Doctor Who. That meant it had to appeal to DW fans, by including things from the show. But apart from a brief appearance from The Doctor in episode 1, and a Weeping Angel cameo at the end, there was nothing.
Torchwood had a Cyber-Woman in episode 4, and SJA had the Slitheen in multiple epispdes, and a Graske in series 1, with other familiar monsters appearing in later series.
Plus both of these had a major character from DW in the leading role. SJA also had appearances from K9, and in later series of both, other characters made apperances, such as Martha (TW), the Brigadier (SJA). Even the Doctor appeared in SJA, but not until series 3, giving the show to grow on it’s own.
If Class had had more DW elements, it probably would’ve won over more fans. Alternatively, if it had not been connected to DW at all, it would probably be fine as it wouldn’t have this pressure to be good.
Class had a lot of potential, but really wasn’t handled well enough.
booboo
September 9th, 2017 - 10:51amWe knew from day 1 this was produced for the new BBC3 digital platform with a budget to match that would certainly not stretch to additional filming for youtube behind the scenes etc.
It was promoted via social media by the official sites and many others with a reach of millions.
As far as i can see It was in effect and experiment that did not work.
Doctor Stu
September 9th, 2017 - 1:15amI’d love a spin off with RiverSong where she’s reading bed time stories to Donnas’ children in the library computer from her diary and then we get to see the adventure unfold with river and eleven. Perfect opportunity to get more river song, more Matt smith who clearly still wants to be the Doctor and maybe throw a few more Doctors in, 8 or 10. Or see what her and 12 got up to on Darillium.
12th Doctor Fan
September 10th, 2017 - 8:47pmI’d avoid like the plague can’t stand River
The Surgeon
September 8th, 2017 - 10:31pmThe show itself was excellent, but I think it was marketed wrong. The spin-off hole was left by SJA, not Torchwood in my opinion. Also alienated a ton of people due to the awkward scheduling, but the writing and acting was genuinely really really good
R1ch1e
September 8th, 2017 - 7:15pmThis is a shame! I actually enjoyed it more as it went on. That was a doozy of a cliffhanger too.
T.A
September 8th, 2017 - 5:15pmHopefully the next spin off they do will be done better. BRING BACK JACK!
GallifreyanKnight
September 8th, 2017 - 1:23pmI’m not at all surprised.
It was a terrible show.
The Outcast
September 8th, 2017 - 2:36pmI agree. I watched episode one, but I didn’t watch any others because of how bad it was.
GallifreyanKnight
September 8th, 2017 - 4:05pmI got as far as halfway through episode 4, and I just couldn’t stand it anymore.
Jordan Scott
September 8th, 2017 - 11:09amI enjoyed Class personally, although it was 100% down to the terrible advertising in my opinion that it’s been cancelled. While the series was running, I would even mention it to people I know who are Dr Who fans and nobody had a clue that “Class” existed.
booboo
September 8th, 2017 - 11:18amthat’s quite odd as the social media promotion was huge and i thought that’s where the “young adult” generation that this was aimed at got their info from?
The Cyber Squirrel
September 8th, 2017 - 4:17pmI’d have to disagree – I thought the social media promotion was abysmal.
booboo
September 8th, 2017 - 5:19pmwell our Facebook and twitter feeds were full of it at the time, as was every fan site.
Jordan Scott
September 8th, 2017 - 10:48pmIt was constantly posted about on Twitter from what I saw, however I think it just wasn’t enough to post about it on pretty much only Dr Who accounts – (also bearing in mind only a portion of followers are actually the target audience).
Anonymous
September 8th, 2017 - 10:49pmYes, But most whovians are still rather lay compared to the likes of whovians on forums such as this. Very few young adults are following the bbc and doctor who related forums 24-7, atleast not as a priority. The show DESPERATELY needed to be advertised on TV in my opinion. I watch bbc 1 and 2 quite regularly pre and post watershed and never seen a thing class related. Then again, maybe it was just me.
booboo
September 9th, 2017 - 10:09amThe whole point was though this was supposed to be viewed and promoted via digital platforms for a new generation and it clearly didn’t work big time.
Jordan Scott
September 9th, 2017 - 11:55amIndeed it didn’t booboo.
Lol Hayden
September 11th, 2017 - 10:39pmPeople I knew just couldn’t be bothered to watch it :/ I loved it though 🙁
Anonymous
September 8th, 2017 - 7:03amIt’s sad to see this show go. But I had such a weird dream last night of a Series 2 episode. It’s disappointing that it’s going but it would never of lived up to SJA and TW
TARDIS H
September 8th, 2017 - 6:58amHopefully Big Finish will get the license.
The Outcast
September 8th, 2017 - 1:04amThe comment Anonymous below (or should be below) that says RIP Class was mine.
Anonymous
September 8th, 2017 - 1:03amI think we all saw this coming.
RIP Class, I personally won’t miss you, but I accept that others will.
Anonymous
September 7th, 2017 - 11:50pmI wish we could see the Weeping Angel story. I guess cancelled means no 2 hour long final story to resolve everything ahaha. Gonna be unfinished in Who History forever
THE ERGON
September 7th, 2017 - 10:39pmCan,t say i,m surprised. I never really warmed to the teenage characters. they seemed too old for the parts unlike the characters in the sarah jane adventures. the only saving grace was katherine kelly who was wasted and who i think would still make an excellent ‘The Rani’.
Slitheen97
September 7th, 2017 - 9:42pmNot surprised sadly. having it as an Online only thing was a terrible decision especially as the show it self was pretty good, Shame there’s not one Last episode to wrap things up though
prototype dalek
September 8th, 2017 - 11:18amI thought the same whilst Atlantis was on, final episode was a cliff-hanger
Anonymous
September 7th, 2017 - 9:14pmIm not too fussed about class being cancelled as i didnt really care for the series.
I reckon the far, FAR bigger problem here is the fact that the BBC will take this to mean there is no market for a spin-off series anymore. This will scare them off from ever allowing a “Mickey and Martha” series or “UNIT” TV series.
So yeah, I just hope this isnt the case, as I think there are many far more accessable ways to make a spin off series than what happened with class…
Anonymous
September 29th, 2017 - 9:45pmno it wont scare the bbc off from spin offs class failed due to being online and being shown on aMonday night at about 11 o clock
whofan36
September 7th, 2017 - 8:49pmI thought it was an ok series nothing great but a lot of shows dont have good first series but get really great as it goes on. If the BBC had put it on BBC 1 instead of BBC 3 along with giving it some proper advertising I think it would have done a lot better. They banked far to much on assuming that as it was a Doctor Who spin off people would watch it.
Currently hoping Titan comics will be able to make Class comics to give some kind of closure to thay cliffhanger
Dalek Eye Stalk
September 7th, 2017 - 8:37pmWasn’t a good series in all honesty. A poor spin off. Doomed from the start with such a terrible title as ‘Class’. Won’t be missed. I mark it an F…could do better Ness. Go back and redo your home work.
Queen Iraxxa
September 7th, 2017 - 8:21pmNooooooooooooooooooooo
The Temporal Jelly Baby
September 7th, 2017 - 6:25pmIt’d have been nice to know what was going on with the Weeping Angels. Maybe Patrick Ness could publicly release what he was planning for series 2. But, overall, I’m not all that fussed about Class being cancelled to be honest. I did actually enjoy watching it (unlike some). I think episodes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 were all at least decent (the middle 2-part story less so) but I have no great attachment to it like I do with Doctor Who.
So, what was going to happen with the Weeping Angels? Bring on the fan-fiction!
booboo
September 7th, 2017 - 6:32pmhe did actually say he would finish it in a book if it got cancelled but presumably as he has now said he wont right anything to do with class again that’s gone out of the window
Doctor Stu
September 7th, 2017 - 9:07pmI remember him saying something about a weeping angel civil war, I think it’s the bbcs fault it’s been cancelled they had ridiculous promotion for it and showed it far too late. I remember Katherine Kelly only got interviewed to promote class on the week the final was due to air.
The Temporal Jelly Baby
September 8th, 2017 - 9:55pmI didn’t know that booboo, thanks. But yeah, if he’s said that then I guess all we can hope for is releasing a series 2 plan or something. I think someone mentioned Big Finish – that’s a good idea.
And a Weeping Angel civil war? Wow, that does sound interesting. Maybe the idea could be used in series 11 of Doctor Who instead.
The Dalek Whovian
September 7th, 2017 - 6:01pmI hate to say this but I think Class was doomed from the start really. I thought it was an interesting idea but in execution it just didn’t work. I feel like it would have worked better if it was it’s own thing rather being in the Who universe and if the character’s had been better written.
RIP Class, Thanks for trying to bring something new to us Whovians Mr Ness.
The Temporal Jelly Baby
September 7th, 2017 - 6:30pmYeah, it didn’t quite work out, but I do appreciate the time and effort Patrick Ness put into the show and he has my respect for that.
Jordan Scott
September 7th, 2017 - 5:55pmNow we’ll never find out what was going on with the Weeping Angels, and Capaldi’s Doctor hasn’t properly faced them either.
T.A
September 7th, 2017 - 5:46pmR.I.P Weeping angles for season 2.
Dalekparadigm2
September 7th, 2017 - 5:36pmBother
prototype dalek
September 7th, 2017 - 5:29pmSort of could see it coming really, could have been done better