The TARDIS arrives in 12th century Palestine where a holy war is in progress between the forces of King Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen ruler Saladin. Barbara is abducted in a Saracen ambush and the Doctor, Ian and Vicki make their way to King Richard’s palace in the city of Jaffa.
NOTES
“The Lion” was found in New Zealand by film collector Bruce Grenville sometime well before 1998 and languished amidst Grenville’s vast 16mm film collection for several years. In 1998, Doctor Who fan Neil Lambess asked if he had any Doctor Who film in his collection. When he answered thad he had something called “The Lion”, Lambess realised he might have a missing episode. He brought his friend Paul Scoones went to Grenville’s farm to videotape the screening, just in case Grenvile had the real episode. After it was determined that Greenville’s print was genuine, he readily agreed to have it sent to the BBC for copying. Scoones therefore shipped it to the BBC Film and Videotape Library, and in 1999 the BBC made a Digi-Beta print of Episode 1, and returned the print to Grenville
Telesnaps for this story exist in the hands of private collectors
Several enlarged telesnaps also exist for this story.
This story was originally entitled The Saracen Hordes and various episodes were made under working titles.
* Episode 2 (“The Knight of Jaffa”) was made under the working title “Damsel in Distress”
* Episode 3 (“The Wheel of Fortune”) was made under the working title “Changing Fortunes”
* Episode 4 (“The Warlords”) was made under the working title “The Knight of Jaffa”
William Russell only appears briefly in the third episode in a pre-recorded segment as the actor was on holiday during filming
This story has been noted for its non-stereotypical treatment of the two opposing leaders. Saladin (played by Bernard Kay) is portrayed as calculating but compassionate, while King Richard I is portrayed as volatile and at times childish.
