Big Finish will be releasing two new volumes for the Doctor Who spin-off series Class later this month.

Alongside the series regulars, Greg Austin (Charlie Smith), Sophie Hopkins (April MacLean) and Fady Elsayed (Ram Singh), two new faces are joining the cast. Dervla Kirwan (who played Miss Hartigan in The Next Doctor) takes over from Katherine Kelly in the role of witty alien exile, Miss Quill. And Joanna McGibbon steps into the shoes of Vivian Oparah as student prodigy, Tanya Adeola.

Producer Scott Handcock said:

Recasting’s a tricky process because people become familiar with a particular actor, and you don’t want to ask a performer to actively imitate what came before as that can often prove more distracting. But Dervla Kirwan’s Miss Quill is just as sarcastic and scathing as Katherine Kelly was on screen, and she embraced the character and backstory instantly: she’s got some really strong material in these stories.

Similarly, Joanna McGibbon came to Tanya Adeola relatively fresh, reacting to what was written on the page, and it instantly feels like she’s been living with the rest of the cast for years.

Listen to a clip

(view clean cover)

Class: Volume Three

The Soers’ Ditch by Carl Rowens
After a disastrous double date night, Charlie, April, Ram and Matteusz find themselves transported to another level of reality. Can they survive the Soers' ritualistic traditions? And more importantly, can they save their friendships?

Catfish by Kate Thorman
When a new student transfers to Coal Hill Academy, everyone goes out of their way to make him feel welcome, and Tanya is especially surprised by how much they have in common. Will she sacrifice best friends for her very first boyfriend?

Sweet Nothings by Michael Dennis
Living on Earth isn't easy when you're used to life as an alien freedom fighter. For Quill, it's a lonely existence – until she meets a Man outside Coal Hill Academy: the Man who can offer her everything she misses from her past... and more.

Listen to the trailer

(view clean cover)

Class: Volume Four

Mock by Alfie Shaw
As the students of Coal Hill Academy prepare to tackle exam season, Quill and Charlie find themselves tested to their limits. Childhood memories from their homeworld threaten to hijack the present – and there are no easy answers.

The Creeper by Lizzie Hopley
While the pupils of Coal Hill Academy celebrate Hallowe'en, Quill and Matteusz investigate an alien distress call emanating from a boarded-up house in Shoreditch. Can April and Charlie reach them before it's too late? And what is the ‘Creeper’ inside?

Queen of Rhodia by Blair Mowat
Quill wakes to find herself unexpectedly back on Rhodia – which is impossible – though not quite as impossible as the life that waits for her there. To save her future, Quill must turn her back on the past. But is this the end or a new beginning?

Listen to the trailer

Class Volumes Three and Four will be available for digital download and also in a limited edition CD box set (only 1000 of each volume will be pressed); they can now be pre-ordered from the Big Finish website, with the CD set available at a discounted price until general release (all CD purchases from website unlock a download exclusive from both their website and app).

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The Doctor Who spin-off Class, created by Young Adult author Patrick Ness is returning in six new audio plays from Big Finish Productions.

The series, released in August 2018, will feature six new adventures from the world of Coal Hill Academy.

Class was created by the BBC to appeal to the young adult market and initially released in the UK on the BBC Three online platform. However the series struggled to make an impact and when it was later screened on BBC One, it failed to find an audience, getting viewing figures around a third of the timeslot average. After one season the series was cancelled by the BBC.

Big Finish is now reviving the series on audio with six new adventures made in arrangement with BBC Studios.

Set during the television series, the new version features the original cast. Greg Austin plays Charlie Smith, Fady Elsayed plays Ram Singh, Sophie Hopkins plays April MacLean, Vivian Oparah plays Tanya Adeola, Jordan Renzo plays Matteusz Andrzejewski and Katherine Kelly plays Miss Andrea Quill.

Spread over two volumes, the six new adventures find the students of Coal Hill Academy reunited and crossing paths with characters from the Doctor Who universe.

• 1.1 Gifted by Roy Gill
• 1.2 Life Experience by Jenny T Colgan
• 1.3 Tell Me You Love Me by Scott Handcock

• 2.1 Everyone Loves Reagan by Tim Foley
• 2.2 Now You Know… by Tim Leng
• 2.3 In Remembrance by Guy Adams

The series will also see Seventh Doctor companion Ace, played by Sophie Aldred, return to Coal Hill in an adventure following up her previous skirmish with the Daleks in the Doctor Who television episode, Remembrance of the Daleks.

Director and Producer Scott Handcock says

It’s a real thrill having brought Torchwood back on audio, to do the same all over again with another slice of the Doctor Who universe, and to play in a world created by Patrick Ness. The characters and their relationships are key to the success of a series like Class, and the intimacy of the audio medium allows us to bring that to the fore.

We’ve had a great deal of fun reuniting the original cast for the audio series, telling brand-new stories set within the TV run, whilst tackling a host of alien menaces. Of course I couldn’t resist linking up to the Doctor Who universe, and bringing Ace and the Daleks into the world of Class has been an absolute treat. And for full authenticity, we’re lucky to have series composer Blair Mowat return to the world of Class as well.

Nicholas Briggs, executive producer says

Big Finish has a strong tradition of venturing into all areas of the Doctor Who universe, so it’s great that we’re invading Coal Hill Academy too. We’ve had so many requests from listeners about us producing audio drama based on Class, so this is something we’ve been keen to do for some time. For me, personally, it’s going to be great to bring some good, old fashioned exterminating to the format!

Class is available for pre-order now at £23 on CD or £18 on download from the Big Finish site and will remain at this price until general release when it will be available for £25 on CD or £20 on download.

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Doctor Who spin off Class has been officially cancelled by the BBC.

The news was confirmed by BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh speaking today at a Broadcasting Press Guild.

No, [we're not bringing it back]. There was nothing wrong with it – I thought Patrick did a great job, he explored an amazing world.

In honesty, it just didn't really land for us on BBC Three. Things sometimes don't, and I've got to make decisions about what we're going to do from a drama point of view.

There are always times when you do something and you have to decide that it's not going to come back. Class is just one of those things.

Class was created to appeal to the young adult market and initially released in the UK on BBC Three, now an online only platform. It was hoped that high-quality original content would drive young viewers to the online station. However, the decision meant that Class was initially only seen by a fraction of the audience it would have received on a broadcast channel.

The series was later screened on BBC One, but as a late night double bill, where it struggled to find an audience, getting viewing figures around a third of the timeslot average.

In June, writer, and creator of the series, Patrick Ness announced that he would not be involved in any future commission of Class and today the BBC finally confirmed that the Corporation would not be making any more episodes.

Patrick Ness Calls Time on Class (4 June 2017)

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Patrick Ness writer and creator of the Doctor Who Spin-off Class, has confirmed he will not be writing any more episodes of the series.

The BBC has not officially commented on the future of the series, which was released on the BBC Three online channel last Autumn and shown on BBC America in the last couple of months. However, with the series creator now withdrawing from the drama it looks increasingly unlikely that a second series will be made.

Ness confirmed his withdrawal from any new series on Twitter saying

I decided a while back that, with unbelievable regret, I won't be writing anymore Class, even if a season 2 moves ahead. It has been the MOST amazing experience. I loved it, and I am so proud of the show and what we made. My heart just bursts with happy.

But we should be filming right now. With the new cycles of Who, we'd pretty much need to be to be on the air before even 2019. But we're not. And that's just TV and how it goes! Not even the littlest bit bitter.

What an amazing experience. Huge thank yous to BBC Three and BBC America for their love and enthusiasm for Class. BBC America in particular absolutely loves the show.

Class was created to appeal to the young adult market and initially released in the UK on an online platform. The project was part of the BBC's initiative to serve young adult consumers by focusing on online content, a decision that led to the closure of the BBC Three Broadcast channel.

It was hoped that high-quality original content would drive young viewers to the online station, which has struggled to make an impact in the market. However, the decision meant that Class was initially only seen by a fraction of the audience it would have received on a broadcast channel.

The series was later screened on BBC One, but as a late night double bill, where it struggled to find an audience, getting viewing figures around a third of the timeslot average.

Ness, on his Twitter feed, said he was baffled by the scheduling decisions of BBC1, given the show had been critically-acclaimed, but reiterated he was grateful for the chance to make it. He talked about some of his plans for Series Two, which will not now be realised.

If I had got a 2nd season, Weeping Angel civil war & Planet, Quill has a dangerous son, Charlie & Matteusz shirtless wood chopping. So, yeah, I'm really sad, saddest in my whole career, but it's the right choice.

Ness also paid tribute to the fans of the series and the cast

What a lucky man I've been to have been able to make a show I'm so proud of and work with wonderful people. Never even dreamed it. So thank you to everyone who watched and loved it and argued about it and watched it again. You made my heart swell. And I think, truly, that my cast are going to be smashing it for years to come. Pxxxx

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BBC Worldwide have issued a press release indicating that the entire catalogue of Doctor Who related shows will be made available in China via Shanghai Media Group Pictures, which includes a first look at Doctor Who up to its fifteenth series!

BBC Worldwide today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading Chinese media company, Shanghai Media Group Pictures (SMG Pictures) that will see expansion of the Doctor Who brand in China.

The MOU was inked yesterday evening at a signing ceremony at BBC Worldwide’s Television Centre in London, with Mr Chen Sijie, GM of SMG Pictures and Jaclyn-Lee Joe, Chief Marketing Officer, BBC Worldwide. Madam Wang Jianjun, Director General President of Shanghai Media Group, Tim Davie, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide and Kelvin Yau, GM, Greater China, BBC Worldwide witnessed the event.

The agreement will see BBC Worldwide working with SMG Pictures to increase the Doctor Who fan base in China, exploring future opportunities as well as exchanging expertise between the two teams.

The MOU comes on the back of a content deal that BBC Worldwide also signed with SMG Pictures yesterday evening. The deal will see the entire catalogue of Doctor Who including spin-offs, Torchwood and Class available on popular TV channels and on-demand platforms all over China.

The deal not only covers Showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat’s Series 1- 10, but also incoming Showrunner Chris Chibnall’s yet-to-film Series 11, well as a first look for Series 12-15.

Jaclyn-Lee Joe, Chief Marketing Officer, BBC Worldwide, said:

This marks the start of a longer and even more fruitful partnership with SMGP,” said . “Doctor Who already has a substantial fan base in China. Now, Chinese fans will be able to access the entire catalogue of Doctor Who and its spin-offs thanks to this agreement. The MOU is an affirmation of both parties’ commitment to build the Doctor Who brand and grow its fan base in China.

Chen Sijie, General Manager, SMG Pictures, said:

China is going through a time of tremendous growth and rapid market development. Everyone here is curious about popular cultures around the world. At the same time, they want to share their Chinese culture and values. Doctor Who, with its long television history and iconic place in popular culture, is a great representative of British pop culture. We hope that this partnership with BBC Worldwide will enable both parties, as well as Chinese and British fans to share and exchange ideas and learnings to grow the universe of Doctor Who in China.

BBC Worldwide and Oriental Pearl Group previously worked together on the theatrical release of Sherlock – The Abominable Bride as well as the upcoming launch of One Amazing Day a co-production with SMG Pictures. The entire catalogue of Top Gear, Top Gear UK and all the UK specials, as well as five series of Top Gear USA, six series of Top Gear Korea and both series of Top Gear China has also recently launched on BesTV, SMG’s linear television service. There has also been a CBeebies programming block on BesTV since 2014.

• Shanghai Media Group Pictures is the film business unit of Oriental Pearl Group, held by Shanghai Media Group.
• Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC AMERICA co-production.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for episodes 7 and 8 of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include details of those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 7, The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did, which was broadcast at 10.47pm, had a confirmed audience of 0.68 million viewers, a 6.4% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is slightly lower than the initial overnight figure. The programme was beaten in the timeslot by BBC Two's Newsnight getting 0.81 million, however it outrated Through the Keyhole on ITV which had 0.53 million. An additional 0.20 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October. The episode scored an AI of 82.

Episode 8, The Lost, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.33pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.32 million watching, a share 5.5% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.82 million. The programme was outrated by Hospital on BBC Two, with 0.38 million. Around 195,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer. The episode scored an AI of 82.

Full ratings for the BBC One screening are shown below. No information has been released by the BBC concerning the future of Class and the possibility of a second series. An online petition asking for a second series has so far received 1700 signatures.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for episodes 5 and 6 of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include details of those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 5, Brave-ish Heart, which was broadcast at 10.46pm, had a confirmed audience of 0.69 million viewers, a 6.4% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is slightly higher than the initial overnight figure. The programme was beaten in the timeslot by BBC Two's Newsnight getting 0.74 million, however it outrated Through the Keyhole on ITV which had 0.56 million. An additional 0.21 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October. The episode scored an AI of 78.

Episode 6, Detained, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.33pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.29 million watching, a share 4.4% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.82 million. Episode 4 increased its audience by 40% over the initial figure. Around 195,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer. The episode scored an AI of 79.

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Class Episode Seven, The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did had an audience of 0.76 million viewers for its debut on BBC One, according the unofficial overnight figures, a share of 8% of the total TV audience.

The rating was fractionally up on the overnight figures for last week's episode. The programme was outrated by by Newsnight on BBC Two, which had 0.79 million, but it beat Through the Keyhole on ITV which had 0.65 million.

The series concluded with Episode Eight, The Lost, which followed at 11.35pm and had an audience of 0.26 million, a share of 4.7%. This episode was beaten in its timeslot Hospital on BBC 2 with 0.33 million, and marginally by The Chase on ITV which also had 0.26 million.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for episodes 3 and 4 of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include details of those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 3, Nightvisiting, which was broadcast at 10.47pm, had a confirmed audience of 0.79 million viewers, a 7.5% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is actually lower than the initial overnight figure. This can happen as the overnight figures are just an estimate based on the scheduled timeslot. The final figures are the accepted official figure for the episode. The programme won the timeslot with BBC Two's Newsnight getting 0.69 million watching. An additional 0.29 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October.

Episode 4, Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.31pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.34 million watching, a share 5.2% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.82 million. Episode 4 increased its audience by 21% over the initial figure. Around 250,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer.

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Class Episode Five, Brave-ish Heart had an audience of 0.66 million viewers for its debut on BBC One, according the unofficial overnight figures, a share of 7% of the total TV audience.

The rating is down on the overnight figures for last week's episode and the programme was outrated by both Newsnight on BBC Two, which had 0.73 million watching, and by Through the Keyhole on ITV, which had 0.70 million.

Episode Six, Detained, which followed at 11.35pm had an audience of 0.21 million, a share of 3.5%. This episode was beaten by Hospital on BBC Two, 0.33 million, by The Chase on ITV with 0.26 million.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for the first two episodes of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 1, For Tonight We May Die, which was broadcast at 10.46pm, had a confirmed audience of 1.06 million viewers, a 10.7% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is about 12% higher than the initial overnight figures. An additional 0.66 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October.

Episode 2, The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.40pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.55 million watching, a share 9.5% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.64 million. Episode 2 increased its audience by 40% over the initial figure, implying many decided to goto to bed and watch the episode later. Around 300,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer.

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Class Episode Three, Nightvisiting, had an audience of 0.84 million viewers for its debut on BBC One, according the unofficial overnight figures, a share of 9% of the total TV audience.

Although the ratings are slightly down on last week, the series did managed to rate higher than the other four main channels, with Newsnight on BBC Two getting 0.67 million and Through the Keyhole on ITV getting 0.61 million.

Episode Four, Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart, which followed at 11.30pm had an audience of 0.28 million, a share of 5.1%. This episode was beaten by Tattoo Fixers on Channel 4 with 0.45 million and by Celebrity Big Brother on Five, with 0.42 million.

Class has been available on the BBC Three online channel since October. Last weeks transmission of Episodes 1 and 2 had Audience Appreciations figure of 70 and 71 respectivally.

Official consolidated figures will be available in two weeks time.

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The Doctor Who spin-off Class came to BBC One in a late night timeslot on Monday evening, getting its first domestic transmission on a main TV Network.

Episode 1, For Tonight We May Die, which was broadcast at 10.45pm, featured a guest appearance from Peter Capaldi, had an estimated audience of 0.94 million viewers, a 10% share of the total TV audience. The rating is below the channel average of 1.64 million for the timeslot. The drama rated higher than BBC 2's Newsnight with 0.65 million. and ITV 1's Through the Keyhole which had 0.75 million. Top for the timeslot was the Channel 4 reality TV series First Dates Hotel which had 1.37 million watching.

Episode 2, The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.40pm, but only managed 0.39 million watching, a share 7.4% of the audience. The ratings were less than the average for the timeslot for BBC One which is 0.64 million. Class did out rate programmes on the other four main channels, winning the timeslot.

Class has been available on the BBC Three online channel since October where the episodes have had around 200,000 viewers.

Final official ratings should be available in two weeks time.

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The BBC has confirmed thet the Doctor Who spin-off series will be shown on BBC One this January

The first episode can be seen on Monday 9th January at 10.45pm

Class has previously only been available in the UK via the BBC Three channel, which, since the 16th February this year, has only been available online.

No firm details are available for the number of viewers who have watched the series on BBC Three, but no episode has managed to make the Weekly BARB Top 50 list of downloaded programs, meaning less than around 60,000 watched the episode in the two days after release. It is believed the audience for each episode was between 20,000 and 60,000 viewers.

The BBC will be hoping for a much bigger audience for the BBC One showing, where the late night timeslot has an average of just over 2 million viewers.

The series is due to be shown on BBC America this spring

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The BBC have released a new set of pictures from the final episode of Class, The Lost.

The episode is released on BBC Three next Saturday, after which it will be released around the world. Full Details

Class Episode Eight - The Lost

Facing an impossible choice, our heroes must use all they’ve learnt to save Earth. But how far are they prepared to go? And will they have to pay a price?

Unable to recover from the truths they have faced, the gang has splintered. Liberated from enslavement, Quill prepares to take her revenge.But they must reunite when the Shadow Kin return, raging a ruthless, unrelenting war.

Resolute to claim April's heart and Charlie's weapon, Corakinus threatens to kill their families until he has what he desires - and the friends must fight to prevent him.

This time, not everyone will make it out alive.

Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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Class Episode 7,The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did, has now been released and can be viewed in the UK on the BBC iPlayer.

Barb have released their TV Player Report for the four weeks covering the release of episodes one and two of Class. The report, which is still in the beta stage, aims to give an estimation of the numbers of people who watch a given programme via a TV Player such as iPlayer. Class is only available in the UK on BBC Three, which is only available online.

The series has failed make the list of Top 50 on-demand programmes for the four weeks ending 13th November 2016, meaning that less than 185,000 viewers have accessed the first two episodes. The highest rated programme on BBC Three for the period, and the only one to make the top 50, was Sex, Drugs & Murder: Life in the Red Light Zone, which had 247,000 watching. The biggest online programme was Planet Earth II: Islands, which had 576,000 viewers.

It is expected that Class will be screened on one of the broadcast channels at some point, which will bring it to a much larger audience.

The final episode of the series will be released next Saturday.

Some additional Behind the Scenes pictures from the last three episodes of Class have also been released. The pictures contain spoilers from the episodes.

Brave-ish Heart

Detained

The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did

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The BBC have released a new set of pictures from the seventh episode of Class, The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did.

The episode is released on BBC Three next Saturday, after which it will be released around the world. Full Details

Class Episode Seven - The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did

With the gang trapped in detention and out of the way, Miss Quill accepts Dorothea's astonishing offer: to help remove the Arn from her head, and to reclaim her freedom.

Alongside Ballon, an imprisoned shape-shifter, Miss Quill travels in a metaphysical engine and is taken to impossible, extraordinary and dangerous worlds, collecting materials in preparation for her life-changing procedure.

After an emotional encounter with her surgeon and a nearly-fatal operation, Miss Quill must find a way to return to Earth: transformed and ready for war.

Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

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The BBC have released a new set of pictures from the sixth episode of Class, Detained.

The episode is released on BBC Three next Saturday, after which it will be released around the world. Full Details

Class Episode Six - Detained

The whole gang is thrown into detention by Miss Quill. Locked in her classroom, they are terrified when an explosion propels them out of space and time: trapped, claustrophobic and floating in blackness with no way of escape.
Although a mysterious asteroid fragment may be their key to freedom, it forces the gang to confess their deepest, darkest secrets to one another. As ugly truths come out, fractures start to appear in the friendship group.
And then they make a chilling discovery. They're not alone. There's somebody in there with them.

Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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The BBC have released a new set of pictures from the fifth episode of Class, Brave-ish Heart.

The episode is released on BBC Three next Saturday, after which it will be released around the world. Full Details

Class Episode Five - Brave-ish Heart

Battling through the Shadow Kin realm, April knows that there is no going back: she has to defeat Corakinus.
On Earth, the invasion of the petals is rapidly snowballing. Confronted with the threat of the planet's extinction, new headmistress Dorothea attempts to force Charlie into making a transformational decision. But Miss Quill has other ideas for him.
As Charlie, Matteusz and Tanya try to stop the petals from annihilating the human race, April must fight the terrifying force of Corakinus, light years away from home.

Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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Class Episode 4,Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart, has now been released and can be viewed in the UK on the BBC iPlayer.

The BBC has also released Behind the Scenes pictures from the third and fourth episodes of Class.

The pictures contain spoilers from the episodes.

Nightvisiting

Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart

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The BBC have released a new set of pictures from the fourth episode of Class, Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart.

The episode is released on BBC Three next Saturday, after which it will be released around the world. Full Details

Class Episode Four - Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart

April starts to feel effects of sharing her heart with Corakinus, and his attempts to sever the attachment only make it stronger.
When April's estranged father makes a startling appearance she confronts him with Shadow Kin force, manifesting traits of the Shadow Kin leader.
Frightened by this extraordinary new-found power, April seeks comfort in Ram, and vows to reclaim her heart as her own. Meanwhile, something strange is happening to the others - London is slowly being infested with unusual, sinister flower petals.

Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

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