BBC Three Confirms 'Class' Air Date

BBC Three has announced that YA drama Class is to debut on Saturday 22 October.

The series, which is a new Doctor Who spin-off, has been written by Patrick Ness and will see Peter Capaldi (the current Doctor Who) join the cast in the opening episode, 'For Tonight We Might Die'.

It is a new term at Coal Hill Academy, and students are preparing for their Autumn Prom. However, when the school is attacked, four alienated students must form an unlikely alliance to defeat the threat.

Charlie (Greg Austin), April (Sophie Hopkins), Ram (Fady Elsayed) and Tanya (Vivian Oparah), are assisted by their physics teacher Miss Quill (Katherine Kelly), and are charged with a responsibility by the mysterious alien known as the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) to guard against the creatures of nightmare that want nothing more than to find a way through to Earth and take it for their own.

Joining the main cast as series regulars are Jordan Renzo, Pooky Quesnel, and Nigel Betts. Meanwhile, the first two episodes also feature Ben Peel, Anna Shaffer, Paul Marc Davies, and Shannon Murray.

Writer and creator Patrick Ness said: "At last, we can tell you a little more about Class. Though there are still many, many secrets to come. Many. Like, a lot. But of course, the Doctor is in episode one! That's how these things are done. Truly, though, I can't wait for everyone to see the show; we've worked so hard and I'm so proud of it."

Commenting on his involvement, Capaldi added: "The Doctor Who family is growing, and it's fantastic to be able to welcome the young new cast of Class in to the Whoniverse."

Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three, commented: "We know lots of BBC Three fans are Doctor Who fans so Class on BBC Three is a perfect fit. It's nice to be back as part of the Doctor Who family."

Class is written by Patrick Ness, with Ed Bazalgette as Director, Derek Ritchie as Producer and Patrick Ness, Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin as Executive Producers. The series is a BBC Studios Wales production, co-produced with BBC America and BBC Worldwide.

Image: BBC Media Centre.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre

(JP/MH)