Series synopsis
Great Canal Journeys is a British documentary television series that premiered on Channel 4 on March 10, 2014. It stars Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock.
To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A. Almost a quarter of a century later, they navigate the 21 miles along its most pict ...
Premise
To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A. Almost a quarter of a century later, they navigate the 21 miles along its most picturesque stretch, starting in Bath and ending in Devizes.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Timothy West as Self
- Prunella Scales as Self
- Gyles Brandreth as Self
- Sheila Hancock as Self
- Samuel West as Self
Guest cast
- Samuel West as Self
Episodes
This series spans 15 seasons with 55 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 6 | October 20, 2019 | August 24, 2020 |
| Season 1 | 4 | March 10, 2014 | March 31, 2014 |
| Season 2 | 4 | March 15, 2015 | April 5, 2015 |
| Season 3 | 3 | October 25, 2015 | November 8, 2015 |
| Season 4 | 3 | March 20, 2016 | April 3, 2016 |
| Season 5 | 3 | August 17, 2016 | August 31, 2016 |
| Season 6 | 3 | October 23, 2016 | November 13, 2016 |
| Season 7 | 2 | June 16, 2017 | June 23, 2017 |
| Season 8 | 4 | October 29, 2017 | December 7, 2017 |
| Season 9 | 6 | October 7, 2018 | November 18, 2018 |
| Season 10 | 2 | June 9, 2019 | June 16, 2019 |
| Season 11 | 6 | November 8, 2020 | November 15, 2020 |
| Season 12 | 2 | March 15, 2021 | March 22, 2021 |
| Season 13 | 4 | August 25, 2021 | September 15, 2021 |
| Season 14 | 3 | September 8, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The British Isles Tim and Pru return to the Oxford Canal for a voyage through the beautiful Cherwell Valley, as they recall their favourite waterway trips around the British Isles |
October 20, 2019 |
| 2 |
Global Adventures Tim and Pru share a stash of memories of their canal journeys overseas, from France, Venice and old Amsterdam, to Sweden, India and Argentina, a trip down the Nile, and back home again |
October 27, 2019 |
| 3 |
Best of Scotland Tim and Pru look back at one of their favourite locations, with its epic vistas, dramatic feats of engineering, stunning landscapes, and a coast-to-coast adventure |
November 17, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Kennet and Avon Tim and Pru travel along the 21-mile Kennet and Avon canal, from Bath to Devizes, meeting canal-side characters and wildlife along the way |
March 10, 2014 |
| 2 |
The Rochdale Prunella and Tim travel the Rochdale canal, past once mighty mills, the epic beauty of the Pennines and the longest and highest canal tunnel in Britain |
March 17, 2014 |
| 3 |
The Llangollen Canal This third canal journey takes Pru and Tim back to their honeymoon destination, Llangollen, in North Wales |
March 24, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Oxford Canal Timothy and Pru take a journey on the Oxford Canal through the Cherwell Valley, meeting author Philip Pullman and their son Samuel West on the way |
March 15, 2015 |
| 2 |
The London Ring canals Timothy and Pru explore London's Union and Regent's canals, from Brentford to Limehouse, meeting with friends Andrew Sachs and Sir Ian McKellen |
March 22, 2015 |
| 3 |
Canal du Midi Timothy and Pru explore the most picturesque stretch of the Canal du Midi in the south of France, eating lamb's brain fritters and drinking 200-year-old brandy |
March 29, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
London's Lost Route to the Sea Timothy and Prunella go in search of London's lost canal route from Teddington, through Surrey and Sussex, and all the way to the sea at Littlehampton |
October 25, 2015 |
| 2 |
Birmingham to Braunston Timothy West and Prunella Scales travel from Birmingham to Braunston, Northamptonshire, for a festival of canal boats and to unveil a plaque to a late friend and canal campaigner |
November 1, 2015 |
| 3 |
Shannon Erne Waterway Timothy West and Prunella Scales head to Ireland and the Shannon Erne Waterway, where they try some folk singing, Irish dancing, and visit the ruins of Crom Castle |
November 8, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Göta Canal Tim and Pru set forth from Gothenburg on the first half of the Göta Canal, one of the longest and most beautiful waterways in the world, travelling 350 miles, coast to coast across Sweden |
March 20, 2016 |
| 2 |
Stockholm and the Archipelago Tim and Pru follow the ancient route of the Vikings, visiting Stockholm and the nearby islands of its archipelago |
March 27, 2016 |
| 3 |
Stratford-upon-Avon Timothy and Prunella take a trip down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, one of Britain's most picturesque waterways, and also pay tribute to William Shakespeare |
April 3, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Venice Tim and Pru travel to Venice, following the route once taken by Casanova and Byron, escaping the crowds of St Mark's to find tranquillity as well as beauty |
August 17, 2016 |
| 2 |
Netherlands Tim and Pru travel to the Netherlands, exploring the canals from the Windmills of the Kinderdijk to the vibrant city of Amsterdam |
August 24, 2016 |
| 3 |
Leeds and Liverpool Canal Tim and Pru take another journey into their pasts, via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2016 |
August 31, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bristol And North Devon With Tim playing King Lear in Bristol, he and Prunella Scales tour the city and also some West Country waterways further afield, including Devon. They also take a paddle steamer. |
October 23, 2016 |
| 2 |
The Caledonian Tim and Pru cross the Scottish Highlands on a sun-kissed voyage along the spectacular Caledonian Canal, a waterway that links the North Sea with the Atlantic |
November 6, 2016 |
| 3 |
The Crinan Canal Tim and Pru island-hop their way through the Hebrides, visiting Tobermory, Iona, the Isle of Jura, and lastly the magical nine-mile Crinan canal |
November 13, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Kerala, India Tim and Pru explore the extraordinary backwaters of Kerala, with spices, dancing and a visit to a temple |
June 16, 2017 |
| 2 |
Brahmaputra, India Tim and Pru strike out for the rarely navigated Brahmaputra river in the far north of India, where they meet a community of monks and hitch a ride on an elephant |
June 23, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Norfolk Broads Tim and Pru explore one of Britain's most ancient and picturesque waterways, discovering the area's unique way of life, its ruins, fens, marshes and woodlands |
October 29, 2017 |
| 2 |
Marne–Rhine Canal Tim and Pru travel past enchanted forests, fairy-tale castles and picturesque mountains and valleys, on a trip Alsace and Lorraine in France |
November 5, 2017 |
| 3 |
Rio Douro, Portugal Tim and Pru voyage through the dramatic landscape of north-west Portugal, with deep locks, hilltop vineyards and some port in Porto |
November 30, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The River Nile Tim and Pru explore one of the world's great waterways - the River Nile, travelling from Luxor to Aswan, visiting a Nubian village and dancing by moonlight |
October 7, 2018 |
| 2 |
North Italy Tim and Pru cross Italy's largest lake and travel down Europe's oldest working canal to Milan. Their journey includes spectacular gardens, singing and wine. |
October 14, 2018 |
| 3 |
Manchester Tim and Pru embark on a voyage through canal history, as they explore the waterways of north west England - heading from the suburbs of Manchester to the great canal port at Ellesmere |
October 28, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Asian Odyssey (Part One) The intrepid 'ancient mariners' go on one last far-flung voyage, to South East Asia, travelling the waterways of Vietnam, from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu and Hanoi |
June 9, 2019 |
| 2 |
Asian Odyssey (Part Two) Timothy and Pru complete their grand tour of South East Asian waterways on Vietnam's Mekong Delta and the world-famous Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat |
June 16, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
London's Waterways (Part 1) Brand new boaters Sheila and Gyles embark on their tour of London's waterways, starting on the upper reaches of the River Thames - a paradise of unspoiled nature, royal retreats and river regattas |
November 8, 2020 |
| 2 |
London's Waterways (Part 2) Concluding their tour of London's waterways, Sheila and Gyles journey the Lee Navigation, tackle their first manual lock and some terrifyingly tight turns, and visit the Royal Gunpowder Mills |
November 15, 2020 |
| 3 | The Best of Scotland | November 17, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Staffordshire's Waterways (Part 1) Sheila and Gyles embark on their tour of Staffordshire's waterways, navigating the Caldon and the Trent and Mersey Canals on a pilgrimage in the Potteries and Stoke-on-Trent |
March 15, 2021 |
| 2 |
Staffordshire's Waterways (Part 2) Concluding their tour of Staffordshire's waterways, Sheila and Gyles take a ride on an old working boat, uncover the history of Stourport and get a taste of the Desi pub in Wolverhampton |
March 22, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cambridgeshire Fens Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth are back on the barge to explore the Cambridgeshire Fens. They visit the vicarage where a children's classic was written, make a pilgrimage to Ely Cathedral to hear some medieval plainsong and try their hand at a spot of landscape painting, before ending their journey in Cambridge to pay homage to early 20th-century poetry great Rupert Brooke. |
August 25, 2021 |
| 2 |
West Lancashire Coastal Plain Sheila and Gyles boat from Wigan to Liverpool across the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. In Wigan, Gyles takes on the world pie-eating champion. |
September 1, 2021 |
| 3 |
Grand Union and Stratford Canal Sheila and Gyles journey to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Sheila performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Gyles once lived with his family. |
September 8, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth are back on the barge to explore the Cambridgeshire Fens. They visit the vicarage where a children's classic was written, make a pilgrimage to Ely Cathedral to hear some medieval plainsong and try their hand at a spot of landscape painting, before ending their journey in Cambridge to pay homage to early 20th-century poetry great Rupert Brooke. |
August 25, 2021 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth travel along the Leeds-Liverpool canal across the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, from Wigan to Liverpool. They explore the two things that Wigan is most famous for - its pier and its pies - with Gyles going head head with the world pie-eating champion. They also visit Scarisbrick Hall to tell the story of Houses of Parliament designer Augustus Pugin. |
September 1, 2021 |
| 3 | Grand Union and Stratford Canal | September 8, 2021 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 10, 2014 |
| Last aired | September 15, 2021 |
| Runtime | 47 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Wednesday at 21:00:00 |