The Maltese Penguin (audio story)

The Maltese Penguin
Main character(s):	Frobisher
Featuring:	Sixth Doctor
Main enemy:	Josiah W. Dogbolter
Main setting:	Unnamed planet, 82nd century
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Robert Shearman
Director:	Gary Russell
Producer:	Gary Russell and Jason Haigh-Ellery
Music:	David Darlington
Sound:	David Darlington
Cover by:	Lee Binding
Release details
Number of parts:	1
Release number:	1 (spine number 33½)
Release date:	12 July 2002
Format:	1 CD Download
Production code:	BFPDWCDSS3
ISBN:	ISBN 1-903654-90-4
Special Releases
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The Sixth Doctor Adventures
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The Maltese Penguin was the first Doctor Who bonus story released by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Robert Shearman and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Robert Jezek as Frobisher.

The story was free to any subscribers whose subscription included Neverland. Numbered 33½, it was Big Finish's first "bonus" story that was not at first released to buy (outside of being included in subscriptions). This story featured Frobisher in the lead role. It was his second audio appearance (his first was The Holy Terror); the Doctor did appear in this story but was mostly sidelined for Frobisher's story. This was also the final audio story to feature Frobisher, and the first to feature Josiah W. Dogbolter.

Publisher's summary

"My friends call me Frobisher. My enemies call me Mr. Frobisher. And the junk mail department of the Galactic Readers' Digest call me Mrs. F R Rubbisher — but that's neither here nor there."

It was just another quiet day on the mean streets for Frobisher, private eye. But then a dame walks into his office and into his life. A dame who is drop dead gorgeous and drop dead deadly, offering him a case he just can't refuse.

Well, he could refuse it. If he really wanted to. But he has to pay the rent.

When their paths cross, Frobisher finds himself involved in a web of mayhem and intrigue. A web of gangland killings, corrupt cops, sentient bloodstains and very rude hotel receptionists. A web of murder and deceit, treachery and fisticuffs.

That sort of web. You know. The sticky kind.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Colin Baker
• Frobisher - Robert Jezek
• Josiah W. Dogbolter - Toby Longworth
• Alicia Mulholland - Jane Goddard
• Chandler - Alistair Lock

Worldbuilding

• Josiah W. Dogbolter owns the planet Metazula Beta.

Notes

• This story was numbered 33½ on the spine. The Big Finish website rendered this as "33 1/2" before the 2019 redesign.
  • After the 2019 redesign, the number was removed and the release was added to The Sixth Doctor Adventures.
• The case bids it "A special side-step into a 2-D universe".
• This story marks the second appearance of Frobisher in an audio play. He previously appeared in this format in the audio story The Holy Terror. As of July 2021, this is his most recent appearance in a Big Finish audio drama.
• Dogbolter mentions his art collection contains "an original Ridgway", referring to the artist who originally drew Frobisher and Dogbolter in Doctor Who Magazine.
• This audio drama was recorded on 2 November 2001 at the Moat Studios.
• With the Doctor largely absent from the story, Colin Baker gets to voice both the Doctor and Frobisher when the latter takes the Doctor's form.
• Pre-dating the Companion Chronicles series, this story is told from Frobisher's perspective.
• The title of this story is a reference to the novel The Maltese Falcon.
• When Frobisher takes on the Doctor's form, this allowed Colin Baker to voice Frobisher as well as the Doctor, although uncredited.

Continuity

• Dogbolter first appeared in COMIC: The Moderator.
• Frobisher impersonates the Sixth Doctor. He had previously done so in his first appearance, COMIC: The Shape Shifter.
• Dogbolter owns a painting by van Gogh, but, along with his other pictures, it was put up facing the wall. Dogbolter noted that they were meant to represent his wealth, rather than be decorative. The Doctor would later meet van Gogh in his eleventh incarnation. (TV: Vincent and the Doctor)

External links

• Official The Maltese Penguin page at bigfinish.com
• The Maltese Penguin at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
• DisContinuity for The Maltese Penguin at Tetrapyriarbus - The DisContinuity Guide