Canal Boat Diaries
Canal Boat Diaries is a TV show on BBC4. Travelling through England’s landscapes, towns and villages, Robbie Cumming offers a personal take on life aboard his narrowboat, the Naughty Lass. The program has been available since 2025. A total of 37 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in July 2025.
Last episode
30:00
30:00Canal Boat Diaries
The reality of life afloat with Robbie Cumming. On the last leg of his journey across England, Robbie crosses an epic aqueduct near Stratford-upon-Avon and gets stuck in a lock in central Birmingham.
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30:00Life on board a narrowboat with Robbie Cumming. Robbie battles his way through blanket weed on the Shropshire Union Canal and discovers industrial secrets in Audlem, Cheshire.
Series 5
1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie Cumming encounters a leaky lock pound on the Perry Barr Flight and gets marooned in the mud before travelling under Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham.
1:00:00It's Robbie's toughest trip yet as he battles through water weed on the Bradley Arm and gets stuck in silt on the Ridgacre Branch.
Series 2 30:00
30:00The real side of boat life with Robbie Cumming. Robbie navigates the mighty River Severn and takes an unexpected bath as he takes a tumble at the Tardebigge lock flight in Worcestershire.
30:00Life 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.
Series 1 30:00
30:00Robbie Cumming concludes his journey by travelling from Barton Swing Aqueduct to Liverpool Docks - but experiences engine problems on the way.
Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie navigates the wintery Grand Union Canal while preparing for Christmas and narrowly avoids flooding his boat in a tricky staircase lock.
1:00:00Robbie mends a leaky pump on the Naughty Lass on the Grand Union Canal. In Watford, he visits a TV legend's home and buys gas from a friendly fuel boat.
1:00:00Robbie returns to where his boating life began, exploring London's canals on Naughty Lass. He travels through Little Venice and moors in Paddington Basin.
1:00:00Robbie moors by Hampton Court Palace, but disaster strikes when a tree branch smashes a window. His dad joins to help through Hanwell locks.
1:00:00Robbie's narrowboat gets stuck under a low bridge on the challenging Basingstoke Canal as he battles through water weed. Can he make it to journey's end?
1:00:00While exploring the Wey and Godalming Navigations, Robbie gets caught in a storm and falls off his narrowboat. He also uncovers rock history in Guildford.
Series 5 55:00
55:00Robbie Cumming journeys through Royal Leamington Spa and the historic town of Warwick with its medieval castle.
Series 1 30:00
30:00Robbie Cumming travels along the Rochdale Canal from Sowerby Bridge to Manchester, but disaster strikes when he runs aground.
30:00Robbie Cumming continues across the Pennines from Marple to Huddersfield, where his journey is hampered by a fallen tree and a leaking lock pound.
Series 6 1:00:00
1:00:00Robbie visits a former Beatle's home in Henley, uncovers horror history in Marlow and struggles to find a mooring in Maidenhead on the River Thames.
1:00:00Robbie'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.
1:00:00Robbie navigates the Oxford Canal, bumps into a hire boat and a hedge and tackles large river locks on the scenic Upper River Thames.
1:00:00Robbie Cumming navigates the scenic Oxford Canal onboard Naughty Lass, explores its twists and turns, and helps tow a stranded broken-down boater.