John G. Lidstone

A leisurely paced and hugely enjoyable show which very skilfully shows you just how life is on an English canal narrowboat exploring pastures new whilst living aboard, showing you the highs and some of the lows, the joys and some of the challenges - but that's what makes this series so engaging. Very well filmed by mix of high-quality (nice and steady) hand-held cameras, some mobile 'selfie' style (also nice and steady) and with a bonus of equally good drone footage at key points to best show these. Robbie Cummings is a genial host, well-spoken and knowledgeably well-read about his passing points of interest. His commentary tells you just enough and leads you to keenly anticipate what his next stop will bring. Just as he wants to explore what's round the next bend, or looks forward to the next stretch of canal to his next overnight stop, so you, the viewer, are fully absorbed, so enjoyably, in every aspect of his day. Not that every day is easy: contorting himself to extract weed from through a handy but narrow hatch to access his propeller, or polling himself away from becoming ground due to low water, he shows us the sunshine, the rain, the warm and the cold. Some of that warmth comes from the people he meets and the beautiful scenes he has time to enjoy whilst passing by at that special slow speed which can become so pleasing in today's fast-paced world. A true joy to watch - every episode reflecting the flavour of Robbie's days afloat. As he wisely says, living aboard a narrowboat is not for the faint-hearted, but with his practical skills, he shows us the rich rewards of staying at home and taking a scenic journey 'in the slow lane'. Hugely watchable, relaxing, informing and fun.