Great Canal Journeys

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on more waterway adventures, beginning 14 miles west of Venice on the Brenta, a river that was first canalised in the 13th century. Lined with palaces which were once holiday homes for Venetian nobility, they follow the route that Casanova and Lord Byron took to the city. After crossing the Venetian lagoon, Tim and Pru arrive at St Mark's Square.

Timothy West and Prunella Scales explore a network that is completely new to them as they embark on a voyage across the Netherlands. Their journey takes them to the gardens of Keukenhof and the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, before they arrive in Amsterdam, where they tour the capital's canal district-the Grachtengordel.

Tim and Pru tackle the record-breaking Leeds and Liverpool canal: the longest length, the longest construction time, and one of the longest bills in Britain.

Tim and Pru explore waterways and childhood haunts in the West Country while Tim is playing King Lear at the Old Vic theatre in Bristol. In the historic floating harbour, Tim takes the helm of a 1.5 million pound ship, and their daughter Juliet joins them to recreate wartime trips aboard a paddle steamer.

Tim and Pru cross the Highlands along the spectacular Caledonian Canal, which links the North Sea with the Atlantic. Voyaging through the heart of the highlands they meet Loch Ness monster hunters, kilt-wearing bards, and pipe-playing clan chiefs.

Tim and Pru brave the Atlantic Ocean, and the world's third largest whirlpool, to reach Britain's most remote canal: the Crinan. They have to work for their keep aboard a traditional steamship, which brought supplies to the remote Hebridean islands.