UKTV has commissioned a new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10x60') for its free streaming service U and leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY, under licence from the BBC.
In Canal Boat Diaries series 7, waterways explorer Robbie Cumming will begin a brand-new journey across the UK from Wales to West Yorkshire. This will be a personal journey showing the reality of living on a narrowboat while travelling through a secret world of remote waterways, picturesque landscapes and industrial marvels.
After 10 years of living aboard the Naughty Lass, this is Robbie’s first journey to Wales by narrowboat - filled with awe-inspiring aqueducts, creepy-looking canal tunnels, and tricky lock flights. And as with previous series, Robbie will continue to share the highs and lows of life aboard the Naughty Lass, from the daily challenges of living and travelling on an aging narrowboat to the unexpected running repairs that come with it.
Robbie Cumming said, "Crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will be a rite of passage for a boater like me. The Llangollen at that point is notorious for being the busiest and most chaotic narrow canal in the world, which is probably why I've put it off for so long! After a brief time in Wales, the plan is for Naughty Lass and I to weave our way across England, working my way back along some of the most beautiful and challenging canals and rivers I've ever been on. As always I've got the route all planned out - but I've absolutely no idea what will happen along the way, which is just how I like it."
Canal Boat Diaries has been commissioned for UKTV by Kirsty Hanson, Senior Commissioning Editor, Factual and Factual Entertainment, with Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment Commissioning, and ordered for U&YESTERDAY by Director of Programming, Factual & Factual Entertainment, Adam Collings and Director of Commissioning, Hilary Rosen. The series producer is Stuart Woodman, who has produced all previous series, and the executive producer is David Sumnall at Middlechild.
The first episode of Canal Boat Diaries series 6 was the top ranked unscripted episode streamed on U during the month of launch.
UKTV’s Kirsty Hanson said: "We are thrilled to commission ten new episodes of Canal Boat Diaries. Robbie is the perfect travelling companion through Britain's waterways, giving an honest account of life on the water.”
Adam Collings, UKTV, added: "U and U&YESTERDAY viewers love Canal Boat Diaries, a warm down-to-earth series and the perfect antidote to the demands of modern life.”
Canal Boat Diaries S7 is filming now and will launch in the UK on and U&YESTERDAY in 2026, to sit alongside fellow U&Original commissions including Dom Chinea’s Cornish Workshop, Classic Car Kings, and Bangers & Cash.
For more information, please contact:
Neelam Rhodes, Publicist, UKTV
Notes for Editors:
About U&YESTERDAY
TV for curious minds, revealing fascinating factual stories from the world around us.
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U is UKTV’s free streaming service, providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W and U&YESTERDAY.
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About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Their leading brands – U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W, U&Yesterday, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. Our content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media.
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About Middlechild
Middlechild (Brighton) and, Northern Child (Newcastle) are fully independent, unscripted production companies specialising in observational documentary, working with remarkable people to tell their stories in creative and compelling ways.