BBC Books / Penguin have confirmed three new tie-in titles for Doctor Who spin-off show, Class, which will be released in October.

Joyride
By Guy Adams

One of three thrilling tie-in novels for Class, the new BBC Three series created and written by bestselling author Patrick Ness. Official Synopsis Coming Soon... 

+  Joyride is released on 27th October 2016, priced £7.99.
+  PURCHASE this title on Amazon.co.uk!

The Stone House
By A.K. Benedict

One of three thrilling tie-in novels for Class, the new BBC Three series created and written by bestselling author Patrick Ness. Official Synopsis Coming Soon...

+  The Stone House is released on 27th October 2016, priced £7.99.
+  PURCHASE this title on Amazon.co.uk!

What She Does Next Will Astound You
By James Goss

One of three thrilling tie-in novels for Class, the new BBC Three series created and written by bestselling author Patrick Ness. Official Synopsis Coming Soon... 

+  What She Does Next Will Astound You is released on 27th October 2016, priced £7.99.
+  PURCHASE this title on Amazon.co.uk!

[Sources: BBC Books]

On the first day of term, BBC Three today announce the stars of the Doctor Who spin-off series Class - exciting young new talents Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah. They will be joined by Katherine Kelly, as she takes the role of a teacher and powerful new presence at Coal Hill School.

Like all sixth formers, these four Coal Hill School students have hidden secrets and desires. They are facing their own worst fears, navigating a life of friends, parents, school work, sex, sorrow - and possibly the end of existence. 

Coal Hill School has been a part of the Doctor Who Universe since the very beginning, but that has come at a price. All the time travelling over the years has caused the very walls of space and time to become thin. There’s something pressing in on the other side, something waiting for its chance to kill everyone and everything, to bring us all into Shadow.

Fear is coming, tragedy is coming, war is coming. Prepare yourselves, Class is coming.

“Time has looked at your faces now.  And time never forgets…”

What if your planet was massacred and you were the sole survivor?

What if a legendary figure out of space and time found you a place to hide?

But what if the things that want to kill you have tracked you down?

And worst of all, what if you haven't studied for your A-Levels…?

Award winning YA writer and Class creator Patrick Ness, says: 

“We searched far and wide for this amazing cast, fantastic actors who understand what we’re aiming for with this show. And how lucky we are to get Katherine Kelly! She’s been stunning in Happy Valley, The Night Manager and Mr Selfridge, just wait until you see her here.”

Steven Moffat, Class and Doctor Who Executive Producer, says:

“There’s nothing more exciting than meeting stars that nobody’s heard of yet. We had the read through of the first few episodes last week, and there was a whole row of them. Coal Hill School has been part of Doctor Who since the very first shoot in 1963, but this new show is anything but history. Class is dark and sexy and right now. I’ve always wondered if there could be a British Buffy - it’s taken the brilliant Patrick Ness to figure out how to make it happen.”

Class is a YA series set in contemporary London. It is scary, funny, and as painful and sharp as youth. It will also shine a light on a whole new corner of the Whoniverse. 

Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three, adds: 

“I can’t wait for Class to arrive on BBC Three. BBC Three will always back best young British talent.” 

From Writer Patrick Ness, Director Ed Bazalgette (Poldark, Doctor Who), Producer Derek Ritchie, and Executive Producers Patrick Ness, Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, the BBC Cymru Wales production, co-produced with BBC America and BBC Worldwide, starts filming today and will premiere on BBC Three this year.

Watch a video of Patrick Ness introducing the cast in a special 360° presentation:
[youtube:ZtOWnx5X2hk] 
[Source: BBC Worldwide]

BBC Three today announces Class - a new 8-part, 45 minute Doctor Who spin-off from the acclaimed young adult 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, Hunger Games), this is Coal Hill School and Doctor Who like you've never seen it 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 storytelling 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 of 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 of BBC Three, and Polly Hill, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning.

An 8x45 minute series is 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. 

Since the announcement broke, Patrick Ness has confirmed that the show will also be broadcast on BBC One:

Btw, plan is, "Class" airs on BBC3 online, then on BBC1, at which point the new episode of "Class" hits BBC3. It's cool.

— Patrick Ness (@Patrick_Ness) October 2, 2015

Fan reaction appears to be generally positive, but some fans have taken to Twitter sharing their dissatisfaction at the premise. Fans took particular umbrage in the way the BBC teased the announcement before 11pm last night.

DWO Verdict:
Wait until the show airs - as Doctor Who fans, there was a time we would have grabbed anything available with both hands. Let's show Class the support it deserves and come together as fans instead of fragmenting over something we have very little information about.

For the BBC to have invested in the spin-off, shows immense trust and commitment to the brand, in a time when cuts and cancellations are at the forefront of news. It also shows trust and commitment to the spin-off itself, so, to bookend our 'verdict', lets wait until the show airs.

[Source: BBC Press Office]

Our friends over at Puffin Books have sent DWO some more details on the anthology of eleven stories by some of the most exciting names in children's fiction!

The print edition of '11 Doctors, 11 Stories' is the culmination of a year-long series of eBooks to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who.

Eleven stories, eleven authors, eleven unique interpretations of the Doctor: his terrifying alien enemies and his time-travelling adventures.

The authors involved in this exciting project are Eoin Colfer, Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Malorie Blackman, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy and Neil Gaiman. 

+  11 Doctors, 11 Stories is Out Now, priced £12.99.

+  Order your copy now via Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eP9Pdl

[Source: Puffin Books]

The fifth instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Patrick Ness, multi-award winning author of the Chaos Walking trilogy and the Carnegie winning A Monster Calls.

Speaking to DWO, Patrick had the following to say on his upcoming title:

"I was delighted to be asked! And the Fifth Doctor is so interesting, too. I've been saying he's the one of all of them who would most likely be a novelist. Always watching, observing, before leaping into action.

Tip of the Tongue is about a fad that's swept through the teens of a small Maine town during WWII. And of course, nothing is what it seems.  Maybe I shouldn't say anymore.

But I did think, as this Doctor is the most observant of all the Doctors, why not make this story one of those where he doesn't actually take centre-stage?  One of those where a non-canon character is the lead and we see the Doctor through their eyes. I always like those episodes. They really remind you of the wonderful strangeness of the Doctor"

Synopsis:

In 1945, a strange new craze for Truth Tellers is sweeping the kids of small-town America. The Fifth Doctor and Nyssa soon arrive to investigate the phenomenon, only to discover that the actual truth behind the Truth Tellers is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined…

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

About the author:

Born in Virginia, USA Patrick Ness spent his upbringing in the states of Hawaii, Washington and California before moving permanently to the UK.

He is the author of the Chaos Walking trilogy which established him as one of the most original and exciting writers of today. The trilogy has won many awards including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Booktrust Teenage Prize and the CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Patrick’s sixth book A Monster Calls received high critical acclaim and is the winner of the Children’s Book of the Year Award at the Galaxy National Book Awards, the Red House Children’s Book Award and the UKLA Children’s Book Prize.

In June 2012, A Monster Calls became the first book ever to win both prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. His highly anticipated new novel for adults, The Crane Wife, was inspired by a Japanese folk tale and just published by Canongate in April 2013.

A daring new YA novel More Than This is forthcoming later this year from Walker (Candlewick in the US).

+  Tip Of The Tongue is released on 23rd May 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook on Amazon for £1.99.
+  Preorder this eBook from iTunes for £1.99.

+  Check Out Patrick Ness's Website.

[Source: Puffin Books]