Class: 8 Reasons To Be Excited About The Doctor Who Spin-Off
The Doctor is finally back!
This hasn't been the best year for Doctor Who fans. Back in January, the show was promised a new lease of life when it was announced that Steven Moffat was stepping down after what will be seven years as showrunner, with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall taking over in his stead. The problem was that the changeover meant there would be no new series of Doctor Who in 2016 (though the usual Christmas special would go ahead as always).
Still, the BBC weren't going to leave the many millions of Whovians out there in the world with nothing to satisfy them. Enter Class - the latest spin-off show set in the Doctor Who world. Unlike others, though, this one won't follow a pre-existing character in their own adventures but rather a pre-existing location. Coal Hill School first appeared in the pilot episode of Doctor Who way back in 1963 and recently returned as the workplace of Clara Oswald in the last two seasons. Now a whole show has been built around it, with a bunch of high school kids having to protect it from aliens in the Doctor's absence.
With Class finally arriving on BBC Three Online this weekend, here are 8 reasons why you should be excited.
8. It's The First Doctor Who Spin-Off In Five Years
A few years ago you couldn't move for Doctor Who spin-offs. There was Doctor Who Confidential, the behind-the-scenes documentary series. There was Torchwood, the adult-orientated drama starring Captain Jack. There was The Sarah Jane Adventures, a show for younger audiences starring classic companion Elisabeth Sladen. And there was even a K-9 solo spin-off that aired on the Disney Channel. Though no one talks about that one.
Strangely though, each and every one of these came to an end in 2011. Either due to tragic circumstances (SJA), poor ratings (Confidential) or loss of interest from the creator (Torchwood). Since then, there has been some talk of reviving these shows or even starting another spin-off - The Paternoster Gang Mysteries, maybe? - but nothing has materialised.
At last, after five years of being stuck with just some guy who can travel through time, we have a second show set in the Doctor Who universe once again. In this age of shared universes - like Marvel's Netflixverse or The CW's DC shows - it makes a lot of sense for Doctor Who to get back into the spin-off game.