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This page absolutely does contain spoilers either about the behind-the-scenes or narrative elements of stories which have not yet been published or broadcast. Please see our spoiler policy for our rules governing articles about such subjects.
The first series of Class was announced on 1 October 2015 as an eight episode young adult spinoff set in Coal Hill School, that was streamed on BBC Three in 2016. This was the fifth Doctor Who television spinoff after K9 and Company, Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and K9 and the first spinoff to premiere online rather than on a traditional television channel.
Class was created by Patrick Ness, who previously wrote the tie-in short story, Tip of the Tongue, for the show's fiftieth anniversary. Ness revealed he would exclusively write all eight episodes and that the series would air the following autumn.[1] He further revealed there would be "no Clara" and that Class would "definitely air in America".[2] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ness said he has been asked to bring back many fan favourites since the series was announced, but he wants to create something new. He also confirmed the Weeping Angels would not feature in the series.[3]
In a Radio Times interview Ness stated "the main character is someone brand new" and, with regard to whether the Twelfth Doctor would appear, he teased, "I can neither yet confirm nor deny. But I'm a big Peter Capaldi fan, let's put it that way."[4] Radio Times reported a "source close to the production" said, "don't be surprised if Peter pops up".[5] On 6 September 2016, the Mirror confirmed that Capaldi would show up in the opening episode, along with a gay sex scene further into the series.[6]
The first episode was shown at the Class World Premiere in Shoreditch in London on 20 October 2016.[7]
Class began airing on 22 October 2016, with its first two episodes, exactly 10 years after the airdate of Torchwood's first two episodes, Everything Changes and Day One.
Cast
Recurring
- Charlie Smith - Greg Austin
- April MacLean - Sophie Hopkins
- Ram Singh - Fady Elsayed
- Tanya Adeola - Vivian Oparah
- Miss Quill - Katherine Kelly
- Matteusz Andrzejewski - Jordan Renzo
- Corakinus - Paul Marc Davies
- Varun Singh - Aaron Neil
- Jackie MacLean - Shannon Murray
- Vivian Adeola - Natasha Gordon
- Mr Armitage - Nigel Betts
- Dorothea Ames - Pooky Quesnel
- Coach Dawson - Ben Peel
- Miss Shah - Pooja Shah
Guest
- The Twelfth Doctor - Peter Capaldi
- Rachel Chapman - Anna Shaffer
- Kevin Williams - Alex Leak
- The Inspector - Jami Reid-Quarrell
- Jasper Adeola - Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Huw MacLean - Con O'Neill
- Rannus/Kharrus - Kelly Gough
- Voice of Rannus - Neil McCaul
- Voice of the Prisoner - Ferdy Roberts
- Ballon - Chiké Okonkwo
- Quill Goddess - Spencer Wilding
- Weeping Angel
- Chair - Cyril Nri[8]
Production
The series began filming on 4 April 2016 and wrapped on 2 September 2016. A number of episodes in the series were directed by Ed Bazalgette, who directed the Doctor Who episodes The Girl Who Died and The Woman Who Lived.[9] Philippa Langdale and Wayne Che Yip directed two episodes each, whilst Julian Holmes directed the finale.[10]
Blair Mowat composed the score for the series.
The working title of the first episode of the series was The Prom.[11]
Television stories
| # | Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | For Tonight We Might Die | Patrick Ness | Ed Bazalgette | Guest appearance from the Twelfth Doctor. First appearances of Charlie, April, Ram, Tanya, Matteusz and Miss Quill. First appearance of the Shadow Kin and Corakinus. |
| 2 | The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo | Patrick Ness | Ed Bazalgette | Death of Mr Armitage. |
| 3 | Nightvisiting | Patrick Ness | Ed Bazalgette | The Lankin takes the form of Jasper Adeola, Rachel Chapman and Orla'ath. Matteusz moves in with Charlie. |
| 4 | Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart | Patrick Ness | Philippa Langdale | Part one. Return of Corakinus. First appearance of Huw MacLean. April develops Shadow Kin powers. |
| 5 | Brave-ish Heart | Patrick Ness | Philippa Langdale | Part two. April and Ram travel off-world. Charlie almost uses the Cabinet of Souls. Corakinus severs the anchor, making April lose her powers. |
| 6 | Detained | Patrick Ness | Wayne Che Yip | First trip off Earth all together: outside of time and space. |
| 7 | The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did | Patrick Ness | Wayne Che Yip | Miss Quill gets her arn removed. Takes place during Detained. |
| 8 | The Lost[12] | Patrick Ness | Julian Holmes[13][14] | Return of the Shadow Kin.[15] |
Digital distribution
Simultaneously with more traditional channels of distribution, series 1 of Class was made available for purchase on several online streaming platforms, also in some countries outside the initial broadcast range. Generally, the episodes were made available online on the same day they were premiered on BBC Three. Series 1 was available on:
- BBC Store in the UK,
- iTunes in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK
- Amazon Video in Austria, Germany and the UK
The release of Series 1 in US digital stores was postponed until the BBC America broadcast of the show, due for 2017.
Aliens and enemies
Rumours
- The 2016 Doctor Who Christmas special will be a Class crossover.[16]
Novels
Footnotes
- ↑ Patrick Ness (1 October 2015). Patrick Ness' Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved on 5 October 2015.
- ↑ Patrick Ness (1 October 2015). Patrick Ness' Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved on 5 October 2015.
- ↑ Megan Lewis (8 October 2015). Doctor Who spin-off Class boss Patrick Ness aims to 'shock you with something new'. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 8 October 2015.
- ↑ Huw Fullerton (5 November 2015). Doctor Who spin-off Class will focus on "brand new" characters, says creator - but will Peter Capaldi appear?. Radio Times. Retrieved on 11 November 2015.
- ↑ Ben Dowell (29 February 2016). Doctor Who spin-off Class to start filming in April with Peter Capaldi set to 'pop up' in new show. Radio Times. Retrieved on 4 April 2016.
- ↑ http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/doctor-who-fans-rejoice-doctor-8775385
- ↑ 6 Things You Need to Know About Class. BBC. Retrieved on 22 October 2016.
- ↑ http://www.gordonandfrench.co.uk/artists-profile-stage.php?ArtistID=7
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (4 April 2016). BBC Three announce cast for Doctor Who spin off - Class. Doctor Who. Retrieved on 4 April 2016.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/julianmholmes/status/767827413392818177
- ↑ https://twitter.com/bbc_class_fans/status/726092526311104512
- ↑ And I will exclusively say that the Class finale, available on 3 Dec, is called "The Lost". We're in the home stretch.... Twitter. Retrieved on 13 November 2016.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/julianmholmes/status/767827413392818177
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDWM 505 - ↑ Class. BBC Media Centre. Retrieved on 12 November 2016.
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-09-01/could-the-doctor-who-christmas-special-be-a-class-crossover