Doctor Who spin-off series Class: Release date announced, Peter Capaldi to appear

The Time Lord will appear in episode one of BBC3's new spin-off series

The BBC has confirmed that actor Peter Capaldi will appear in the opening episode of BBC3's Doctor Who spin-off Class.

Capaldi, who plays the family sci-fi series' latest incarnation of the titular Time Lord, will show up for the premiere episode which will air on 22 October.

Class will be set at Coal Hill Academy which the most dedicated fans will recognise as a key location from the long-running show's universe.

Capaldi - who'll return for his third series as the Doctor next April - said: “The Doctor Who family is growing, and it’s fantastic to be able to welcome the young new cast of Class into the Whoniverse."

Creator Patrick Ness recently told Empire: “Coal Hill has existed in Doctor Who since literally episode one. The Doctor’s granddaughter went there. So we thought, ‘All that time activity at the school, has that caused any problems?’ Well, what do you know, it has!”

The spin-off stars Greg Austin, Sophie Hopkins, Fady Elsayed, Vivian Oparah and former Coronation Street actor Katherine Kelly who was last seen in ITV series Mr. Selfridge.

Strangely, opening episode, titled "For Tonight We Must Die," will be shown exactly one decade since spin-off Torchwood first aired; actor John Barrowman recently claimed 'certain egos' have prevented Doctor Who's original spin-off from airing.

Ness is the author of A Monster Calls, the film adaptation of which will be released in January. BBC3 will air the first two episodes of Class on BBC3 on 22 October.