‘Doctor Who’ is getting a YA spinoff TV series

“Doctor Who� is getting a new spinoff set in the halls of Coal Hill School, starring the students in the school (along with lots of timey wimey hijinks).

According to the BBC Three, the new YA drama (officially titled “Class�) is set in contemporary London. Think “Buffy the Vampire Slayer� (incredible danger and monsters at school) meets “Hunger Games� (teens fighting for their lives) set in the world of “Doctor Who� (breaking the walls of time and space with aliens).

Attached to the project is YA author Patrick Ness, writing his first television series. Ness is known for his dystopian YA sci-fi series “Chaos Walking.�

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“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,’� said “Doctor Who� show runner Steven Moffat in the announcement. “This is growing up in modern Britain — but with monsters!�

“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,� Ness also said in the release.

Coal Hill School, of course, is a familiar setting for “Doctor Who� fans. The school first made its appearance in the very first “Doctor Who� episode “An Unearthly Child� in 1963 with the First Doctor’s granddaughter Susan Foreman as a student.

More recently, current companion Clara Oswald is a teacher at the school. No word on whether Jenna Coleman will make an appearance on the series. Coleman recently announced her departure from the “Doctor Who� series, but we’re not counting her out just yet. Many actors return for Christmas episodes or anniversary specials, so fingers crossed for more Coleman in “Class.�

The series, which will consist of eight 45-minute episodes, is scheduled to start filming this spring.

Twitter: @tracycbrown