"Frobisher" was the name taken by theWhifferdillcompanion of theSixth andSeventh Doctors. While technically capable of turning into nearly any form, Frobisher ultimately found he preferred the shape of a smallpenguin, staying in that body for most of his life. He shared the Doctor's positive outlook on theuniverse as well as many of his other witticisms.

Biography[[edit] |[edit source]]

Early life[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher began life as a street urchin in aslum onXenon without much friendly company. (COMIC:Once Upon a Time-Lord) He was married to another Whifferdill namedFrancine, who left him because she felt she was a better detective. He was a con man for the most part, using his abilities to makemoney regardless of the cost to others. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter,AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin) Being a private detective, Frobisher became used to being knocked unconscious to the point where he almost enjoyed it. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

Travels with the Doctor[[edit] |[edit source]]

Joining the Doctor[[edit] |[edit source]]

Living as Avan Tarklu in the82nd century, he came across theSixth Doctor whenJosiah W. Dogbolter placed a bounty on theTime Lord. Following the Doctor, he infiltratedhis TARDIS, shifting intothe central column and piloting it. However, instead of turning the Doctor in for the money (even though the TARDIS interested Dogbolter more), Tarklu decided that he liked the Doctor, and helped him escape. They stole the money which they split evenly. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter)

Early travels[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher joined the Doctor on his journeys. He took the name of Frobisher because he felt that it soundedBritish, thinking that the Doctor would like that. He also settled on the form of apenguin. Frobisher and the Doctor were assigned byVoyager to return his star charts.

Frobisher saved the Doctor from drowning in the sea by hoisting him onto a rock. (COMIC:Voyager) Frobisher helpedIvan Asimoff rescuePolly theZyglot from a circus. (COMIC:Polly the Glot)

The Doctor defeatedPlink, whom he had encountered before, in battle. After the Doctor referred to their encounter as their "peripatetic perigrinations", Frobisher asked for a dictionary. (COMIC:Death to the Doctor!) Later duing their travels, Frobisher metPeri, after the Doctor picked her up. (COMIC:Kane's Story)

Sometime later, when the Sixth Doctor and Peri were out of the room, theTenth Doctor appeared to Frobisher through theTARDIS control console; the same way that Frobisher had first appeared to him. The Doctor told him that he needed his help, and that he would also be helping himself and many othercompanions.

The Tenth Doctor contacts Frobisher. (COMIC:Façades)

The Sixth Doctor landed in the year7214, where a nature preserve was keeping the lastPenguins alive. The Doctor was captured by the local robotic officials, who believed him to be insane, and was locked in a mental institution. There he learned that the robots were under the control ofthe Tremas Master, and that all of the staff in the prison were hisAuton slaves. Frobisher and Peri broke into the prison, Frobisher shape shifting into a hospital staff member pretending to be escorting Peri. When they were discovered, the Auton staff attacked, Frobisher and Peri running away through the building.

The Doctor broke out of his cell, and ran into Frobisher, who was disguised as Peri, as the Tenth Doctor had instructed. They were chased into a room by the Autons, but the Doctor was able to stop them by melting the plastic inside them. When he turned around, though, he saw Peri, actually Frobisher, captured by acloaked figure. (COMIC:Façades)

Now in the same cell system that the cloaked figure had used to capture the Doctor's other companions, Frobisher escaped his cell- designed to hold Peri rather than himself- and began exploring. After the true culprit had explained his plans to theEleventh Doctor, and the Doctor had summoned his other ten selves to assist him, Frobisher made his move. He disguised himself as a remote control that would have ended the lives of all the Doctor's companions minus one, only revealing the switch to Adam Mitchell when Adam tried to use it in response to the Doctors' presence. With some instruction from the Second Doctor, Frobisher masqueraded as an Auton and freed all of the Doctor's companions so that they could help the Doctors hold off the Autons untilRose Tyler, theNinth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors could convince Adam that he was wrong. (COMIC:Endgame)

Illness[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher became ill withmono-morphia, trapping him in the form of a penguin. (COMIC:Genesis!) He travelled back to prehistoricEarth and went swimming, trying to catch a fish. A reptile in the sea began chasing him, but Frobisher was unable to change due to his illness.

The Doctor was forced to throw some waste from the future at it. This set history on the course it was intended to follow. Peri joined them on their travels again after she watched a baseball match. (COMIC:Time Bomb)

Frobisher began to recover from the mono-morphia. He battled aKymbra Chimera after it infiltrated the TARDIS, his powers holding out long enough for the Doctor to have it sucked out. (COMIC:Changes)

Later travels[[edit] |[edit source]]

The Doctor promised to take them toArcadia, but instead, they landed on a spaceship called theMayflower. There, they metKara McAllista, and helped her repel theProfiteer of Ephte. (COMIC:Profits of Doom!)

They attended theLorduke of Zazz's party on theplanetZazz. There, Frobisher danced and performed for the guests. He helped prepare ProfessorStrut's rocket to deliver a plague ofself-replicating robots to the planet'smoon. (COMIC:The Gift)

Second batch of travels[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher eventually left the Doctor, and returned to work as a detective. The Doctor visited him to see if he wanted to resume travelling; Frobisher declined.Alicia Mulholland approached him and asked him to follow her husband,Arthur Gringax, to see if he was cheating on her. Frobisher performed part of this mission in the Doctor's shape, in order to remain inconspicuous.

Frobisher followed Gringax to an inn. There he was taken prisoner byElric Chandler and delivered to Josiah W. Dogbolter. He escaped, but was soon recaptured. The economy broke down after the workers read a joke and became imaginative as a result. Dogbolter then escaped. Alicia revealed herself to be Francine, and told Frobisher that he should leave with the Doctor, as he would later regret staying with her. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

The TARDIS "went on strike" after Frobisher harmed aGumblejack created by thedimensional stabiliser. She took them toa medieval-style castle. Upon emerging, the people were fascinated by "a talking bird" and believed Frobisher to be the Doctor's master.

After the current "god",Pepin VII, abdicated from his rule, he proclaimed Frobisher as his successor and the new god. Frobisher attempted to improve life for the inhabitants of the bizarre and dictatorial world, but he and the Doctor learned this was a simulation: they were in a prison designed to punishEugene Tacitus, which came under attack from the apparition of Eugene's murdered son. Frobisher was horrified to see all the inhabitants killed before him, unable to save them. Eugene had his son kill him, removing the threat, and the Doctor and Frobisher left in the recovered TARDIS. Frobisher was left upset by his failure as he knew the simulated people had believed themselves to be real. (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

AfterPeri had left the TARDIS, Frobisher and the Doctor visited her descendants several times. (COMIC:The Age of Chaos) He greatly missed her.

After the Doctor regenerated intohis seventh form, Frobisher found the journeys less fun without Peri and that he wasn't needed as much anymore. To cheer him up, the Doctor took him to the luxury planetA-Lux where they encounteredArryx and hisIce Warriors, who had sabotaged the planet's weather controls, turning it into a snowy wilderness. Frobisher hooked up with the A-Lux resistance underKorr and, despite his reluctance, risked his life to find destroy the weather control machines. He was left dismayed to find the Doctor had already reprogrammed them and was gently needling him for planning to just destroy them, ignorant of the risks Frobisher had took.

After the planet was saved, Frobisher decided he would stay behind in41st century A-Lux; he wanted a quiet life now and the locals needed him in a way the Doctor did not. The two parted, the Doctor telling him not to apologise for leaving as the penguin's happiness was what mattered. (COMIC:A Cold Day in Hell!)

Life after the Doctor[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher morphs back into a Penguin. (COMIC:Where Nobody Knows Your Name)

Frobisher eventually took on a human form, calling himself "Bish". He came to run a bar,Bish's, where he eventually met theEighth Doctor, though neither recognised the other due to both having changed their appearance since they'd parted ways. He talked with the Doctor, trying to find out why he looked so sad. When a robot calledZalda entered the bar, threatening to blow herself up, the Doctor talked her out of it. Frobisher then called for drinks on the house. When everyone had left the bar apart from his wifeCaralla, who worked there, he morphed back into his penguin form. (COMIC:Where Nobody Knows Your Name)

An image of Frobisher appeared on one of theKnowsall screens displaying theTenth Doctor's memories. (COMIC:Thinktwice)

Frobisher pretends to beChiyoko. (COMIC:The Stockbridge Showdown)

As part of theTwelfth Doctor's plan to bring down Dogbolter, Frobisher disguised himself as one of the Doctor's old opponents,Chiyoko. As "Chiyoko", Frobisher pretended that he had suspended the inhabitants ofStockbridge in time in the year2016 to lure the Doctor there so that Dogbolter could take his TARDIS; in reality the Doctor had done this to keep the villagers safe asthe Doctor lured Dogbolter into a trap. When the Doctor andMaxwell Edison arrived atSt Justinian's Church, Frobisher revealed his identity and knocked out Dogbolter's henchmen. However, anticipating that Frobisher might show up again, therobotHob blocked his powers. When Dogbolter tried to kill the Doctor, Max saved the Doctor's life, andIzzy Sinclair arrived at the church to knock Dogbolter out.Sharon Allen ultimately broadcast Dogbolter's confession to murder in his own century, and Dogbolter was arrested, with his assets seized.

Frobisher dances withSharon atMaxwell Edison's birthday party. (COMIC:The Stockbridge Showdown)

Frobisher joined the Doctor and some of the Doctor's friends at Max's sixtieth birthday party in the city ofCornucopia. (COMIC:The Stockbridge Showdown)

With Iris Wildthyme[[edit] |[edit source]]

The renegadeTime LordIris Wildthyme (who had a habit of claiming that various of the Doctor's adventures had happened to her, not him) once said that she travelled with a mouthy shape-shiftercompanion who liked to stay in the shape of a penguin. (PROSE:The Scarlet Empress)

Personality[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher was known to speak in anAmerican dialect, even defaulting to an American accent when using the shape and voice of someone who didn't normally speak with one. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

Frobisher, like the Doctor, made light of threatening situations and tended to make jokes at these and other inappropriate times. Despite this, he became a loyal and trustworthy companion to the Doctor. (COMIC:Voyager)

Frobisher once cited his wish to say, "Follow that cab!" as the reason he'd joined the private eye business. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

He had no qualms about killing, shooting guards at Dogbolter's estate (COMIC:The Shape Shifter) and being unconcerned about the tactics used against Ice Warriors on A-Lux. (COMIC:A Cold Day in Hell!) Frobisher was not picky in his eating habits. He ate anearthworm that was offered to him byBrock. (COMIC:Once Upon a Time-Lord)

Frobisher plays thepiano. (COMIC:The Gift)

He did not seem to fully understand penguin physiology. At one point he believed himself to have laid an egg. (COMIC:Time Bomb)

Frobisher was keen to party when arriving on Zazz. This led to some conflict between him and theLorduke. He also annoyed ProfessorStrut, a hater of music, by performing a rendition ofFireball XL5. (COMIC:The Gift)

Frobisher left the Doctor for some time as he felt he was playing second fiddle, with the Doctor always saving the day. He believed the Doctor "cramped his style". Although Frobisher felt bad at leaving the Doctor, he surmised that he needed to work solo. He came to realise that he was better suited to rescuingcats than saving the day. His second departure was also over the fact the Doctor did not need him. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin,COMIC:A Cold Day in Hell!)

Frobisher stated that the loss of Francine had hurt him deeply. He theorised that no one should ever get too close to another. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin) When Pepin VII told him not to get married, he replied that he had tried it, in reference to Francine. However, he "was no longer theOgron she fell in love with". (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

Frobisher preferred to catch his food, choosing to huntGumblejack over eating cannedtuna. He stated that it had been so long since he heard his real name that he sometimes forgot what it was.

Frobisher did not believe in heaven. However, he reminded others not to take his word as gospel. Frobisher was reluctant to rule upon his proclamation as a god. He began introducing basic government principals to them, such as free will and voting.

Frobisher told the Doctor that, despite only existing inEugene's World, the inhabitants were still people. The Doctor compared this to Frobisher's claim that the Gumblejack wasn't real so Frobisher learned his lesson. (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

Abilities[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher had a good knowledge of mechanics and other technological aspects. He was able to play thepiano and was also a capable singer. (COMIC:The Gift)

Frobisher was able to use the TARDIS. He used thedimensional stabiliser to create someGumblejack. (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

Frobisher could shapeshift. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter,AUDIO:The Holy Terror,AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin.) This was definitely the most memorable bit about him, considering that in an adventure with the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, the Doctor references a friend, Frobisher, who could shapeshift. (AUDIO:Death's Deal)

Frobisher dances with a cane and top hat. (COMIC:Time Bomb)

Clothing[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher usually remained solely in penguin form, undressed. A number of his forms involved dress but these were part of his body. (COMIC:War-Game) As a disguise he once morphed a pair of glasses, moustache and false nose (extended to accommodate his beak). (COMIC:Voyager) He once wore a blacktop hat and carried a cane. (COMIC:Time Bomb) On occasion he donned headgear and glasses. (COMIC:The Gift) OnMarinus, theWorldshaper caused Frobisher to moult quickly. (COMIC:The World Shapers) He once claimed to be wearing black and whitetrousers whilst in penguin form. (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

Forms[[edit] |[edit source]]

Frobisher used the form of a pale yellowhumanoid, three to four feet in height, with an egg-shaped featureless head, wearing spectacles. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter) He once told the Doctor he spent fourteen years in the form of asupermarket till. (COMIC:Voyager) While with Francine, Frobisher used the form of anOgron, at least upon occasion. (AUDIO:The Holy Terror)

He assumed the form of apigeon on at least one occasion to allow himself to fly. Insidethe Doctor's TARDIS, he morphed to change into thetime rotor of theTARDIS console. He then took on the Doctor's form so as to trick his captors. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter)

Frobisher takes the form of thetime rotor. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter)

After Francine left him, Frobisher adopted the form of apenguin as she had been fond of that shape. He did this to remember her. (COMIC:Voyager) He temporarily took on the form of theSixth Doctor once more in order to investigate a murder because, as he explained, "A penguin detective would be shocking." (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

On two occasions he morphed to extend his arms to perform strong punches. (COMIC:The Shape Shifter,Frobisher's Story)

He temporarily turned into a muscular barbarian-stylehumanoid on the primitiveplanetActinon. (COMIC:War-Game)

Frobisher took on the form of aPantachian Rock Skipper to scale a steep wall. In this form he was able to hoist others up by a rope. (COMIC:Frobisher's Story)

TheEighth Doctor and Frobisher chat, neither knowing the other's identity. (COMIC:Where Nobody Knows Your Name)

Frobisher later developedmono-morphia, which prevented him from shape-changing for some time, leaving him stuck in the form of a penguin. (COMIC:Genesis!)

Frobisher morphed into the forms of a big cat, adinosaur and arobot to combat aKymbra Chimera. (COMIC:Changes) He stretched his penguin form to one similar to a hang-glider. He used this form to saveProfessorStrut (COMIC:The Gift) and later,Jamie McCrimmon. (COMIC:The World Shapers)

While investigating Arthur Gringax, he used the form of the Doctor, so as to appear less conspicuous. (AUDIO:The Maltese Penguin)

When the Doctor suggested that Frobisher had gained weight, he defended himself saying he had changed form from aKing penguin to anEmperor penguin. (PROSE:Mission: Impractical)

When Frobisher was runningBish's, he used a humanoid form going by the name of Bish. (COMIC:Where Nobody Knows Your Name)

Frobisher takes the form of a kid. (COMIC:Façades)

While running away from thered robots, Frobisher took the form of amerry-go-round horse. When the red robots weren't anywhere near he and Peri, Frobisher went back to the shape of a penguin, and the changed to the form of a kid, posing as Peri's child. After the Tenth Doctor contacted him, Frobisher used Peri's form. This way, when thecloaked figure captured "Peri", he could help the Doctor from insidethe fortress. (COMIC:Façades)

He took the girl-like form ofChiyoko to lure Dogbolter into a trap onEarth. He later morphed his body to avoid laser fire, and took the form of a rocky humanoid figure with hammers for hands and a masked superhero with an "F" emblem on his chest, the latter two both wearing spectacles. WhenHob blocked his powers with anull-beam, Frobisher changed back into a penguin. (COMIC:The Stockbridge Showdown)

Behind the scenes[[edit] |[edit source]]

• "Avan Tarklu" is a play on the phrase "haven't a clue."
• The many of Frobisher's travels with the Doctor don't mesh easily with televisedDoctor Who continuity, other thanPeri's reference inThe World Shapers to having metJamie McCrimmon inSpain inTV:The Two Doctors.A Cold Day in Hell! however, can be placed in a period when theSeventh Doctor has left Ace behind inCretaceous times, as seen inLiving in the Past andBirthright.
• InDWM 258, the upcoming appearance of Frobisher in the novel Impractical was announced in a semi-fictional article which suggested that Frobisher had been getting work in the 1990s filming beer commercials.

"Frobisher" recording the audio dramaThe Maltese Penguin. (DWM 318)

• A mock interview with Frobisher appeared inDoctor Who Magazine after he had left the series. The article refers to various humorous "on-set" anecdotes, including Frobisher's unwelcome interest inNicola Bryant, which caused tension during production. The interview was reprinted in the graphic novelThe World Shapers. Years later,Doctor Who Magazine issue318 would again show Frobisher as a real actor, displaying him recording a new audio drama forBig Finish Productions as a real person.
• In 2020,Robert Shearman, writer ofThe Maltese Penguin andThe Holy Terror, stated that he had always believed thatWilfred Mott was Frobisher, partly because he consideredBernard Cribbins a good casting choice for the character, and partly because he thought that having a shapeshifting penguin grandfather made a great deal of sense forDonna Noble as a character.^[1]
• InPROSE:Spiral Scratch whenMelanie Bush sees alternative versions of the Doctor, one of the versions is him travelling with Frobisher.

Footnotes[[edit] |[edit source]]

External links[[edit] |[edit source]]

• Frobisher attheDoctor Who Legacy wiki