‘Doctor Who’ spin-off ‘Class’ has reportedly been axed.
The teen show, which first appeared on screens in October last year, is unlikely to be recommissioned for another series after the eight-parter failed to pull in enough viewers, despite Peter Capaldi appearing as the Time Lord in the first episode.
A show source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "’Class’ hasn’t been the success the BBC were hoping for. No decision has been made on a recommission."
Producers had high hopes for the show, which follows a group of teens at Coal Hill School where Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) was a teacher, as they’d managed to snap up ‘Coronation Street’ favourite Katherine Kelly as alien teacher Miss Quill.
But, despite the first episode reeling in one million viewers on BBC iPlayer, the ratings had plummeted to a measly 300,000 by the time the series wrapped up in December.
‘Class’ is the fourth TV spin off for ‘Doctor Who’ after ‘K9 and Company’ in 1981, ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ in 2007 and, most recently ‘Torchwood’ from 2006 until 2011.
It’s not just the spin off that’s in for a shake up, as the main show will also experience changes later this year when Peter steps down as the iconic time-travelling scientist.
Peter – who became the 12th actor to take on the role in 2013 from Matt Smith – said: "I feel it’s time to move on. I feel sad, I love ‘Doctor Who’, it is a fantastic programme to work on. It can’t praise the people I work with more highly, but I have always been someone that did a lot of different things."
Steven Moffat – who has worked on the show for seven years – will also had over the writing reins to ‘Broadchurch’s Chris Chibnall after the festive special this year.
He said: "I’m sure I’ll miss it for the rest of my life and reminisce to very bored people about how I used to be something, I used to matter, then sob on their shoulder and get kicked out the pub."
Doctor Who’s spin-off Class gets the axe
