STAYING ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW

As Canal Boat Diaries returns to our screens for a brilliant new series, waterborne adventurer Robbie Cumming on trying to keep the 'Naughty Lass' out of trouble

- Matt Nixson

W HAT is it about the British and narrowboats? Even though most o the UK's canals haven't been used in earnest for trade and industry since the early 1960s, they've been enjoying a renaissance of interest in recent years. And nowhere more so than among television viewers in search of some peace and tranquillity.

Several fabulous series - sometimes dubbed "slow TV" - have reflected the joys of travelling, living and working on the country's 4,700-mile canal network. Among them, having gained a cult audience on BBC Four, is Canal Boat Diaries featuring Robbie Cumming. With the fifth series taking up a new mooring on Yesterday/UKTV Play next week, the narrowboat adventurer is once again inviting us on board the "Naughty Lass".

This time, the waterways enthusiast will be exploring the landscapes, towns and cities of the Midlands before heading south along the 137-mile Grand Union Canal the network's "trunk route", linking Birmingham with London - in ten one-hour episodes.

As ever, chugging along at 4mph, he shares his passion for our industrial heritage and celebrates some of the lesser-known stretches of our most challenging inner-city canals.

It's a fascinating mix of history, documentary and reality TV. The new series was filmed from last July until February, starting in Northamptonshire, Braunston, considered the capital of the canal network, and ending up at Little Tring, Hertfordshire.

It's not without its challenges or drama, either. Episode one pretty much starts with him losing an expensive TV camera in an especially tricky lock - before jumping in to try to retrieve it.

Don't try this at home, kids!