While Doctor Who itself prepares to head into a new era – with the transition between Peter Capaldi and showrunner Steven Moffat, to new Doctor Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall now underway – it’s officially the end of all things for spinoff series Class. After weeks of speculation, BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh has confirmed that the show has been cancelled after just one season.
Class was created by Patrick Ness, with Steven Moffat acting as executive producer, alongside Brian Minchin – who produced the previous two Doctor Who spinoff shows, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Torchwood. Its premise revolved around the familiar and regular Doctor Who location of Coal Hill Academy, with a group of students and staff supporting the work of the Doctor in dealing with extra-terrestrial menaces – against a backdrop of pubescent trials and tribulations. Specifically, one teacher and one student are revealed to be alien refugees, hiding from their inter-galactic persecutors, and the Doctor reveals that Coal Hill Academy is a focal point in time and space for alien travel.
The show ran for eight episodes, from October to December 2016, and fans have been patiently waiting for confirmation of its return. While it had been favourably reviewed as a darker, more challenging drama than its parent show, it unfolded relatively quietly and seemed to struggle to expand its viewership. Damian Kavanagh (for BBC Three) cited this situation while talking to press at a Broadcasting Press Guild event – its failure to “land” being a contributing factor in the decision to cancel Class.
“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 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’s 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.”
While fans may mourn the passing of Class as another spinoff that was short-lived in relation to its parent show, Doctor Who returns to screens on December 25th for its annual Christmas special.