Great Canal Journeys

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on a journey into their pasts, via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Despite living most their lives in the South, they both have Northern roots, and as the canal winds over the Pennines and down through the Dales they're transported back to their Yorkshire origins. Starting at the highest point of the canal, they're immediately faced with the challenge of a bumpy ride through Foulridge Tunnel. Emerging on the other side, Pru steps back into her childhood memories when they visit the country's last surviving steam-powered textile mill. Meandering through the 'curlies', the canal's most winding and beautiful stretch, they are joined by the acclaimed poet, Simon Armitage, whose work is inspired by the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire landscape.