'Doctor Who' Spinoff News: 'Class' Picked Up By BBC America, Will Air Later This Year

By Jackie Villegas, Christian Post Contributor Tuesday, January 12, 2016

"Class," the upcoming "Doctor Who" spinoff series, is set to air in the U.S. this year on BBC America, the network announced at the Television Critics Association in Pasadena on Friday.

"I'm astounded and thrilled to be entering the 'Doctor Who' universe, which is as vast as time and space itself," Patrick Ness, who will write and co-executive produce the series, said, according to a Variety report. Ness is known for writing the children's fantasy novel "A Monster Calls" and the young adult trilogy "Chaos Walking."

"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 exams," the writer teased.

The show will have a limited run of just eight 45-minute episodes and will be co-executive produced by Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, who are also behind the cult favorite "Doctor Who," which will soon return to television for the 10th season of its revival.

"Class," which was already scheduled to air in the U.K. on BBC Three, will be co-produced by BBC America and BBC Cymru Wales, Variety reports. The spinoff series will be filmed in Cardiff, Wales, the same location where the "Doctor Who" films are shot. According to Bustle, the series will be set in present-day London.

BBC America is also set to air the crime thriller "Prey" on Feb. 25.

According to BBC America president Sarah Barnett, "With each of these shows we aim to cut through the noise and provide the innovation and originality our fans have come to love and celebrate."

"Class" joins the list of "Doctor Who" spinoffs, which already includes "Torchwood" (2006-11), "The Sarah Jane Adventures" (2007-11), "Torchwood: Children of Earth" (2009), "K-9" (2009-10), and "Torchwood: Miracle Day" (2011).