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{{You may|Frobisher}}
{{ImageLink}}
{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|image          = JFrobisher.JPG
|image             = John Frobisher close (COED4).jpg
|name = John Frobisher
|species           = Human
|alias          =
|job              = Permanent Secretary
|species=Human
|affiliation      = Home Office
|origin     = [[Earth]]
|birth date        = [[1958]]
|appearances     = [[TV]]: ''[[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Children of Earth]]
|death date        = [[September]] [[2009]], [[London]]
|actor           = Peter Capaldi
|origin           = [[Glasgow]]
|clip           = We want the children - Torchwood - BBC
|spouse            = Anna Frobisher
}}
|child            = Lilly Frobisher
'''John Frobisher''' was the [[Permanent Secretary]] to the [[Home Office]] and [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood Three's]] liaison to the British government. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Two]]'') He was later appointed informal ambassador to [[the 456]].
|child2            = Holly Frobisher
Passionate and driven, his job became increasingly difficult when all around him began to shirk any responsibility for the disaster that was unfolding.
|first cs          = Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)
|appearances       = {{il|[[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)}}|[[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}|[[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)}}|[[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)}}|[[PROSE]]: {{cs|Torchwood: The Encyclopedia (reference book)}}}}
|actor             = Peter Capaldi
|clip             = We want the children - Torchwood - BBC
|clip2            = Peter Capaldi as the Tragic Frobisher - Torchwood Children of Earth - BBC
}}{{you may|Frobisher}}{{NOTOC}}
'''John Frobisher''' was [[Permanent Secretary]] to the [[Home Office]] and [[Torchwood Three]]'s [[liaison]] to the [[British government]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
=== Earlier career ===
=== Early life ===
John Frobisher started working for the Civil Service in [[1970|1980]], according to his service biography; he worked in various departments before he joined the Home Office in the [[1990s]]; he was previously Director of Crime Control Policy before he was promoted to become Permanent Secretary to the Home Office in [[2003]].
John Frobisher was born in [[Glasgow]] in [[1958]]. He was [[Education|educated]] at [[Gordonstoun]] and read [[PPE]] at [[Oxford University]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}) He started working for the [[Civil Service]] in [[1980]] where he met [[Bridget Spears]]. Although [[Swales]] did not believe that he would amount to much, Bridget decided to keep an eye on him.


=== Personal life ===
Whilst many moved on to bigger and better things, Frobisher remained in the [[Home Office]] and worked hard, asking for Bridget as his [[personal assistant]] circa [[1990]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)}}) His positions included being [[Director General]] for [[School]]s and [[under-secretary]] at the [[Crime Reduction and Community Secretary Group]]. In [[2003]], he was promoted to the office of [[Permanent Secretary]] to the Home Office, chairing the [[Home Office Board]] and sitting on the [[Service Steering Board]] and [[Senior Leadership Committee]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}}) He was also [[Torchwood Three]]'s [[liaison]] with [[British government|the government]].
Frobisher had a wife named [[Anna Frobisher|Anna]] and two daughters, [[Holly Frobisher|Holly]] and [[Lilly Frobisher|Lilly]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day One]]'') His assistant [[Bridget Spears]] seemed to imply that he had extramarital affairs, though she may have lied. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three]]'')


=== 456 incident ===
Frobisher married [[Anna Frobisher]] and had two daughters; [[Lilly Frobisher|Lilly]] and [[Holly Frobisher|Holly]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)}}) Bridget implied that he had at least one extramarital [[affair]] with a member of his staff. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}})
As a civil servant, he followed the Prime Minister's orders. In [[2009]], then-[[Prime Minister]] [[Brian Green]] thought of Frobisher as a tool to absolve himself of blame should the British government's past dealings with the 456 become known. He considered Frobisher "expendable" and made no secret of his unconcern for his wellbeing.


Based on his comments to [[UNIT]]'s [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]], Frobisher had prior experience with [[alien]]s; comments made by [[Gwen Cooper]] suggested that Frobisher, or his office, oversaw [[Torchwood Three]]. [[Jack Harkness]] tried to contact him early in the 456 incident. In order to keep secret the [[1965]] deal with the 456, Frobisher ordered a "blank page" assassination order against everyone involved, including Jack Harkness. This led to the bombing by [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] and her team of [[the Hub]] under [[Cardiff Bay]]. Other individuals were also murdered, and at least two people (one of whom appears to have been collateral damage) were killed in the implanting of a bomb into Harkness. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day One]]'')
=== The 456 incident ===
In [[September]] [[2009]], Frobisher was informed of the [[Earth]]'s children stopping by [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Augustus Oduya]] of [[UNIT]] and of the return of [[the 456]] by [[Dekker]]. After [[Brian Green]] refused to issue a [[Blank Page]] to cover up the [[United Kingdom|UK]]'s past interaction with the aliens, Frobisher issued it instead, ordering the [[assassination]] of [[Jack Harkness]], [[Ellen Hunt]], [[Michael Sanders]] and [[Andrew Staines]] which resulted in the [[bomb]]ing of [[the Hub]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)}}) He ordered [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] to kill [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] as they were witness to the bombing and had Jack's remains taken to [[Ashton Down]].


:''The British government believed, at that time, incorrectly, that the Hub somehow enabled Jack to die and come back to life. They thought that they had to destroy the Hub in order to deal with him.''
Green put Frobisher in charge of dealing with the 456 situation, clarifying that he was a [[scapegoat]] should anything go wrong. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)}}) He witnessed the arrival of the [[456 ambassador]] in [[Thames House]] and began negotiations, refusing Jack's demand for access to the building and threatening [[Alice Carter|Alice]] and [[Steven Carter]] should he go public. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)}})


Brian Green wanted a scapegoat in case events went badly. He persuaded representatives to have Frobisher, a unelected civil servant, serve as representative to the 456. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Two]]'') Frobisher witnessed the 456 arrival on [[Earth]] in [[Thames House]] along with [[Dekker]]. He represented Earth in diplomatic arrangements with the 456 as an expendable middleman. Jack Harkness contacted Frobisher for access to Thames House. Frobisher declined and told him that he would harm [[Alice Carter|his daughter]] and [[Steven Carter|grandson]] if he went public. Harkness suggested he would kidnap Frobisher's wife, but Frobisher knew that Harkness was a better man than he and would not carry out his threat. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Three]]'')
During an emergency meeting of [[COBRA]] to determine the handover of 10% of British children, Green tasked Frobisher with the selection and transport of the children, although the method by which children were selected was decided by the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]]. Frobisher invented the cover story that children's disappearances were due to inoculations against 456's control going wrong. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)}})


During an emergency meeting of [[COBRA]] (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) to determine the handover of one tenth of British children, Green tasked Frobisher with the selection and transport for the children, although the method by which children were selected was decided by the Cabinet. Frobisher invented the cover story suggesting the children would be inoculated against 456 control. The government actually took them to hand over to the 456. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Four]]'')
=== Death ===
[[File:Frobisher_murder_suicide.jpg|thumb|Frobisher, preparing to kill his family and himself. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five]]'')]]
[[File:Frobisher murder suicide.jpg|thumb|left|Frobisher, preparing to kill his family and himself. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)}})]]
The next day, the Prime Minister told Frobisher that his children would be publicly handed over for 'inoculation.' This was an attempt by the government to portray themselves as victims, reassure the public regarding their cover story and to implicate the 456 as the true villains. Frobisher threatened to reveal to the press the true nature of the innoculations. Green dissuaded him from this, noting that Frobisher's children would know their fate. Wanting to spare his daughters of their fate at the hands of the 456 and his wife the grief, Frobisher decided to murder his family and commit [[suicide]]. He kissed his ever-loyal PA [[Bridget Spears]] on the cheek when they met for the final time. Spears, realising Frobisher's intentions, made clear to Lois Habiba, that "John Frobisher was a good man," and that, "It wasn't his fault." Spears then proceeded to record incriminating evidence against Green. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five]]'')
The next day, Green told Frobisher that his daughters would be publicly handed over for "inoculation" as an attempt by the government to portray themselves as victims. Frobisher threatened to reveal to the press the true nature of the inoculations, but Green said that that would not save his daughters but would only tell them of the horror that awaited them. Unwilling to allow his daughters to suffer an eternal living death at the hands of the 456, he had a horrified Bridget (who realised what he planned to do) take a handgun out of storage for him before going home. He sent his family upstairs to wait in a bedroom so he had them all together. Entering the bedroom, he shot his wife and daughters dead before then killing himself. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)}})


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
* In the ''[[Torchwood Declassified]]'' episode ''[[Cracking Children of Earth (TD episode)|Cracking Children of Earth]]'', [[Russell T Davies]] suggested that, since they are played by the same actor, Frobisher may be a descendant of [[Lucius Caecilius Iucundus]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Fires of Pompeii]]'') and goes on to note that, in a sense, Frobisher's killing of his family brings closure to the saving of Caecilius' family in the earlier episode.
* John Frobisher was portrayed by [[Peter Capaldi]], who previously portrayed [[Lobus Caecilius]] in ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'' and later became the [[Twelfth Doctor]].
* The [[Sixth Doctor]] once had a shapeshifting companion also named [[Frobisher]]. ([[DWM]] comic strip, et al).
** In the ''[[Torchwood Declassified]]'' episode ''[[Cracking Children of Earth (TD episode)|Cracking Children of Earth]]'', [[Russell T Davies]] suggested that, since they are played by the same actor, Frobisher may be a descendant of Caecilius, and goes on to note that, in a sense, Frobisher's killing of his family brings closure to the saving of Caecilius' family in the earlier episode. This was confirmed by [[Steven Moffat]] who stated that Frobisher's suicide was time's way of "reasserting itself."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-15/doctor-who-steven-moffat-finally-reveals-why-the-twelfth-doctor-shares-the-same-face-as-torchwoods-john-frobisher</ref>
* Frobisher's actor, Peter Capaldi, is also cast for the [[Twelfth Doctor|next incarnation]] of the Doctor.
* Russell T Davies named the character after [[Frobisher]] from the [[DWM comic stories|''Doctor Who Magazine'' comic strip]], a shape-shifting penguin and companion of the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[DWMSE 39]])
* Prior to Capaldi being cast in the role, Frobisher was performed by [[Simon Armstrong]] at the readthroughs. ([[BFX]]: {{cs|Widdershins (audio story)}})


== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}


[[Category:Human civil servants|Frobisher, John]]
[[Category:21st century individuals|Frobisher, John]]
[[Category:Human parents]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:20th century individuals]]
[[Category:Glasgow residents]]
[[Category:Human civil servants]]
[[Category:21st century individuals]]
[[Category:London residents]]
[[Category:Human murderers]]
[[Category:Human murderers]]
[[Category:Look alikes of the Doctor]]
[[Category:Human biological fathers]]
[[Category:456 incident officials]]

Latest revision as of 12:45, 9 October 2024

You may be looking for Frobisher.

John Frobisher was Permanent Secretary to the Home Office and Torchwood Three's liaison to the British government.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

John Frobisher was born in Glasgow in 1958. He was educated at Gordonstoun and read PPE at Oxford University. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"]) He started working for the Civil Service in 1980 where he met Bridget Spears. Although Swales did not believe that he would amount to much, Bridget decided to keep an eye on him.

Whilst many moved on to bigger and better things, Frobisher remained in the Home Office and worked hard, asking for Bridget as his personal assistant circa 1990. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)"]) His positions included being Director General for Schools and under-secretary at the Crime Reduction and Community Secretary Group. In 2003, he was promoted to the office of Permanent Secretary to the Home Office, chairing the Home Office Board and sitting on the Service Steering Board and Senior Leadership Committee. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"]) He was also Torchwood Three's liaison with the government.

Frobisher married Anna Frobisher and had two daughters; Lilly and Holly. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)"]) Bridget implied that he had at least one extramarital affair with a member of his staff. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"])

The 456 incident[[edit] | [edit source]]

In September 2009, Frobisher was informed of the Earth's children stopping by Colonel Augustus Oduya of UNIT and of the return of the 456 by Dekker. After Brian Green refused to issue a Blank Page to cover up the UK's past interaction with the aliens, Frobisher issued it instead, ordering the assassination of Jack Harkness, Ellen Hunt, Michael Sanders and Andrew Staines which resulted in the bombing of the Hub. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)"]) He ordered Johnson to kill Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones as they were witness to the bombing and had Jack's remains taken to Ashton Down.

Green put Frobisher in charge of dealing with the 456 situation, clarifying that he was a scapegoat should anything go wrong. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Two [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)"]) He witnessed the arrival of the 456 ambassador in Thames House and began negotiations, refusing Jack's demand for access to the building and threatening Alice and Steven Carter should he go public. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Three [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)"])

During an emergency meeting of COBRA to determine the handover of 10% of British children, Green tasked Frobisher with the selection and transport of the children, although the method by which children were selected was decided by the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Frobisher invented the cover story that children's disappearances were due to inoculations against 456's control going wrong. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Four [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)"])

Death[[edit] | [edit source]]

Frobisher, preparing to kill his family and himself. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)"])

The next day, Green told Frobisher that his daughters would be publicly handed over for "inoculation" as an attempt by the government to portray themselves as victims. Frobisher threatened to reveal to the press the true nature of the inoculations, but Green said that that would not save his daughters but would only tell them of the horror that awaited them. Unwilling to allow his daughters to suffer an eternal living death at the hands of the 456, he had a horrified Bridget (who realised what he planned to do) take a handgun out of storage for him before going home. He sent his family upstairs to wait in a bedroom so he had them all together. Entering the bedroom, he shot his wife and daughters dead before then killing himself. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)"])

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-15/doctor-who-steven-moffat-finally-reveals-why-the-twelfth-doctor-shares-the-same-face-as-torchwoods-john-frobisher
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