Series synopsis
Canal Boat Diaries is a documentary television series that premiered on BBC Four on November 19, 2019. It stars Robbie Cumming.
Travelling through England’s landscapes, towns and villages, Robbie Cumming offers a personal take on life aboard his narrowboat the Naughty Lass.
Premise
Travelling through England’s landscapes, towns and villages, Robbie Cumming offers a personal take on life aboard his narrowboat the Naughty Lass.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Robbie Cumming as Presenter
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 47 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 5 | November 18, 2019 | November 26, 2019 |
| Season 2 | 4 | December 9, 2020 | December 9, 2020 |
| Season 3 | 4 | March 13, 2022 | March 17, 2022 |
| Season 4 | 4 | May 1, 2023 | May 4, 2023 |
| Season 5 | 10 | June 3, 2024 | June 14, 2024 |
| Season 6 | 10 | May 19, 2025 | June 17, 2025 |
| Season 7 | 10 | May 18, 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Shardlow to Stoke-on-Trent Robbie tackles a propeller problem and tricky locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal. |
November 19, 2019 |
| 2 |
Froghall to Bugsworth Basin A low Staffordshire canal tunnel proves a problem and Robbie helps out a stranded boater. |
November 20, 2019 |
| 3 |
Marple to Huddersfield A fallen tree and a leaking lock pound hamper Robbie's journey across the Pennines. |
November 21, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ellesmere Port to Audlem Life on board a narrowboat with Robbie Cumming. Robbie battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal and accidentally floods a staircase lock in Chester. |
December 9, 2020 |
| 2 |
Market Drayton to Stourport-on-Severn Life on England’s waterways with Robbie Cumming. Robbie gets stuck in the mud in Woodseaves Cutting and explores the charming canal-side village of Kinver in Staffordshire. |
December 9, 2020 |
| 3 |
Stourport Basins to Kingswood Junction Robbie navigates the mighty River Severn and takes an unexpected bath as he tumbles at the Tardebigge lock flight in Worcestershire. |
December 9, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wigan to Burnley Robbie Cumming begins his 170-mile journey across the north of England and soon runs into difficulty when he encounters a propeller problem in Wigan and runs aground in Blackburn. Nevertheless, he pushes on to the Burnley Embankment. |
March 14, 2022 |
| 2 |
Barrowford to Bingley Narrowboater Robbie Cumming crosses the Pennines on the picturesque Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and lends a hand to hire boaters in Gargrave, North Yorkshire. He also encounters Bingley Five Rise Locks, a wonder of the inland waterways. |
March 15, 2022 |
| 3 |
Dowley Gap to Ferrybridge Jump on board with narrowboater Robbie Cumming as he explores the Victorian village of Saltaire on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, moors up in Leeds and goes in search of an abandoned waterway on the Aire and Calder Navigation. |
March 16, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sheffield to Keadby Robbie begins his 300-mile adventure across the north of England and the Midlands. He is forced to make a running repair while on the Tinsley lock flight. |
May 1, 2023 |
| 2 |
Keadby to Kiveton Park Robbie Cumming tackles the fast-flowing tidal River Trent and is invited to join a night-time illuminated boat parade. However, his journey is hampered by a damaged wall in Worksop and a water shortage on the picturesque Chesterfield Canal. Will he make it by boat to Kiveton Park? |
May 2, 2023 |
| 3 |
Lincoln to Nottingham Autumnal fog and an overheating engine prove to be problems for narrowboater Robbie Cumming as he navigates a Roman waterway and the fast-flowing River Trent. It’s a journey of many challenges as he runs aground and breaks down in Nottingham. |
May 3, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Braunston to Lapworth Robbie Cumming journeys through Royal Leamington Spa and the historic town of Warwick with its medieval castle. |
June 3, 2024 |
| 2 |
Yardley Wood to Netherton Tunnel Robbie Cumming sets out to explore the meandering waterways of inner city Birmingham including the Soho Loop and the Engine Arm Canal. |
June 4, 2024 |
| 3 |
Hawne Basin to Stourbridge Disaster strikes when the Naughty Lass collides with a low bridge on the Bumble Hole Canal Branch damaging a chimney. |
June 5, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Napton Junction to Aynho Wharf Robbie Cumming navigates the scenic Oxford Canal onboard Naughty Lass, explores its twists and turns, and helps tow a stranded broken-down boater. |
May 19, 2025 |
| 2 |
Aynho Wharf to Bablock Hythe Robbie navigates the Oxford Canal, bumps into a hire boat and a hedge and tackles large river locks on the scenic Upper River Thames. |
May 20, 2025 |
| 3 |
Oxford to Reading Robbie's narrowboat gets a makeover before he explores the River Thames, he moors in Abingdon and tackles an emergency DIY repair to fix a leak. |
May 26, 2025 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Llangollen to Crickheath Robbie begins a new canal adventure in Wales and encounters towering aqueducts and stunning scenery along the way. |
May 18, 2026 |
| 2 |
Frankton Junction to Grindley Brook Robbie's journey on the Llangollen Canal takes an unexpected turn when his boat gets stuck in silt and a passing hire boat comes to the rescue. |
May 18, 2026 |
| 3 |
Grindley Brook to Middlewich As Robbie leaves the scenic Llangollen Canal, he faces a journey of running repairs and narrowboat maintenance on the old Naughty Lass. |
May 25, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Four |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 19, 2019 |
| Last aired | June 15, 2026 |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Monday, Tuesday at 20:00:00 |