The Crusade (Doctor Who)

014 – The Crusade
Doctor Who serial
Richard the Lionheart (Julian Glover) speaks with the First Doctor (William Hartnell), with Ian (William Russell) and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) in the background. Critics praised Glover and Hartnell's performances.[1][2][3]
Cast
Doctor William Hartnell – First Doctor
Companions William Russell – Ian Chesterton Jacqueline Hill – Barbara Wright Maureen O'Brien – Vicki
Guest Walter Randall – El Akir Roger Avon – Saphadin Bernard Kay – Saladin Julian Glover – Richard the Lionheart David Anderson – Reynier de Marun Bruce Wightman – William de Tornebu John Flint – William des Preaux Reg Pritchard – Ben Daheer Tony Caunter – Thatcher Jean Marsh – Joanna Gábor Baraker – Luigi Ferrigo John Bay – Earl of Leicester Robert Lankesheer – Chamberlain George Little – Haroun Petra Markham – Safiya Sandra Hampton – Maimuna Zohra Segal – Sheyrah Viviane Sorrél – Fatima Diana McKenzie – Hafsa Tutte Lemkow – Ibrahim David Brewster – Turkish Bandit Billy Cornelius – Man-at-Arms Derek Ware, Valentino Musetti, Chris Konyils, Raymond Novak, Anthony Colby – Saracen Warriors
Production
Directed by	Douglas Camfield
Written by	David Whitaker
Script editor	Dennis Spooner
Produced by	Verity Lambert
Music by	Dudley Simpson
Production code	P
Series	Season 2
Running time	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Episode(s) missing	2 episodes (2 and 4)
First broadcast	27 March 1965 (1965-03-27)
Last broadcast	17 April 1965 (1965-04-17)
Chronology
← Preceded by The Web Planet Followed by → The Space Museum
List of episodes (1963–1989)

The Crusade is the sixth serial of the second season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by David Whitaker and directed by Douglas Camfield, the serial was broadcast on BBC1 in four weekly parts from 27 March to 17 April 1965. In this serial, the First Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions Ian Chesterton (William Russell), Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill), and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) arrive in 12th century Palestine during the Third Crusade, and find themselves entangled in the conflict between King Richard the Lionheart (Julian Glover) and Saladin (Bernard Kay). They also meet King Richard's sister Lady Joanna (Jean Marsh) and Saladin's brother Saphadin (Roger Avon).

Whitaker wrote the serial after departing his role as the show's story editor in 1964. He was fascinated by the Third Crusade, and found the historical figures effective material for a character drama, particularly the relationship between King Richard and his sister. Story editor Dennis Spooner was impressed by the maturity and near-Shakespearean nature of Whitaker's scripts, and Camfield considered them the best he directed for the show. Viewership fell from the previous serial and dropped throughout the four weeks, but was considered acceptable. The Crusade received positive reviews, with praise directed at the writing, performances, and set design. Two of the four episodes remain missing after the BBC wiped them from archives. The story received several print adaptations and home media releases, with the missing episodes reconstructed using off-air recordings.