A YA Doctor Who spin-off is in the pipeline at BBC Cymru Wales.

Class is a shiny new 8 x 45 drama due to shoot in Wales next spring, from popular young adult writer Patrick Ness, whose credits include the Chaos Walking trilogy and A Monster Calls.

The series is set in Coal Hill School in contemporary London, where danger is bursting through the parameters of space and time, leaving the capital city unprotected.

Marking the author’s first TV venture, the show has some serious drama pedigree behind it: Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffatt joins Ness as executive producer as does fellow Who veteran, BBC Cymru Wales‘ Brian Minchin, who is currently overseeing Russell T Davies’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Moffat said of the commission: “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!”

Ness added: “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.”

The series is from BBC Cymru Wales in association with BBC Worldwide, and is due to film in Wales next spring.

There will plenty more news on Class over the coming months, so make sure you’re following it on Production Intelligence from 3 October.

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