'Doctor Who' Spinoff 'Class' Coming In 2016

The world of Doctor Who is getting a little bit larger. BBC Three has announced a Doctor Who spinoff titled Class to premiere in 2016, with YA author Patrick Ness serving as showrunner. Steven Moffat will executive produce. Get all the details on the Doctor Who spinoff after the jump.

Consisting of eight 45-minute episodes, Class will be aimed at a young adult audience. The show will be set in the present day at London's Coal Hill School, which has been a part of the Whoniverse since the 1963 episode "An Unearthly Child." The location is still a recurring setting on the show; Clara (Jenna Coleman) is a teacher there.

Ness is an author best known for his YA work including the Chaos Walking series (which Lionsgate once tried to adapt into a film franchise written by Charlie Kaufman) and A Monster Calls. The latter was turned into a movie directed by J.A. Bayona and starring Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson, due out next year.

Class will begin shooting in Wales next spring, and premiere sometime in 2016. This is not Doctor Who's first spinoff. The franchise launched Torchwood in 2006 and The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2007. Read the full press release about the Doctor Who spinoff from BBC.com below.BBC Three announces Doctor Who Spin OffBBC Three today announces Class – a new 8 x 45 minute Doctor Who spin off from the acclaimed YA author, Patrick Ness. Class is a YA series set in contemporary London. Incredible dangers are breaking through the walls of time and space, and with darkness coming, London is unprotected. With all the action, heart and adrenalin of the best YA fiction (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Hunger Games), this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you've never seen them before.Steven Moffat says, "No one has documented the dark and exhilarating world of the teenager like Patrick Ness, and now we're bringing his brilliant story-telling into Doctor Who. This is growing up in modern Britain – but with monsters!"On his first television series, writer Patrick Ness says, "I'm astounded and thrilled to be entering the Doctor Who universe, which is as vast as time and space itself. There's so much room there for all kinds of amazing stories, and to work with Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin to find a place to tell one of my own has been an absolute joy. 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 A-Levels."Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three adds, "We're excited to give Patrick Ness this opportunity to work with us at BBC Three and the Doctor Who family. Patrick understands young audiences and I'm delighted he will use his incredible skills as a storyteller to delight audiences on BBC Three. BBC Three will always innovate and offer opportunities for brilliant new talent."Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning, adds, "I am thrilled that Patrick Ness is writing his first drama series for BBC Three. The combination of Patrick and Steven Moffat, is an exciting partnership that has created a brilliant Doctor Who spin off for our BBC Three audience."Class is executive produced by Steven Moffatt, Patrick Ness and Brian Minchin. It was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three and Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning.An 8 x 45 minute series produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with BBC Worldwide for BBC Three.The series will film in and around Wales from Spring, 2016 and be on air next year.