Great Canal Journeys

Tim and Pru go in search of the lost route between London and the sea, which has not been fully open for over 200 years and requires four different boats to traverse now. They leave the Thames at Teddington and travel through the Surrey and Sussex countryside before arriving at Guildford, and a canal-side theatre where they have both regularly performed.

Tim and Pru travel from Birmingham to Braunston to attend a festival of vintage canal boats, aided on the tricky journey by their son Sam and Juliet, Timothy's daughter from his first marriage. Along the way, they meet a 78-year-old boatman, who reveals how he was born on a canal boat, andunveil a plaque dedicated to a woman who dedicated her life to preserving Britain's canals.

Timothy West and Prunella Scales go to Ireland and travel along the Shannon Erne Waterway, the'peace canal' linking the North to the South. Along the way, they try some traditional dancing and folk singing, visit historic sites including Crom Castle and Bloody Pass, and meet a genealogist with a fascinating discovery to share.

Tim and Pru head into uncharted waters to attempt one of the longest canal journeys in the world- 350 miles coast to coast across Sweden. The first leg of their voyage begins in Gothenburg, where they link up with the historic Gota Canal, taking them into the heart of the Scandinavian country and toward the Baltic Sea.

Continuing their Swedish adventures, Tim and Pru follow the ancient routes of the Vikings and travel to Stockholm. They navigate the city's canals before heading out to the far-flung islands of the archipelago. They give an impromptu performance on the Drottningholm Palace Theatre, and meet Wallander actor Krister Henriksson before celebrating Swedish Midsomer with a crayfish party.

Tim and Pru conclude the series by travelling down the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, with fourgenerations of Scales-Wests aboard. The couple revisit places that hold fond memories from the early stages of their relationship, as well as looking back on the beginnings of their acting careers, before putting on a performance in the church where Shakespeare is buried.