The broadcaster explores some of Britain's best canals and delves into their history. He begins with a voyage along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, the nation's longest at 127 miles. After being measured up for a suit in Leeds and encountering an unfriendly alpaca on a farm in Saltaire, he successfully crosses the Pennines on his barge, heading via Burnley and Blackburn toward the famous Liverpool docks.
The broadcaster crosses the England-Wales border as he explores the Llangollen Canal. Along the way, he gets his fingers burnt attempting to become a blacksmith, travels over a terrifyingly high aqueduct and receives a shock on spotting some racy artwork in a fellow narrowboat.
The broadcaster explores the 34-mile Aire and Calder Navigation, built to connect the industrial cities of north-east England with the east coast. Along the way, he learns how to stone-grind flour in Castleford, tries his hand at aerobics on the edge of a lock in Woodlesford near Leeds, and samples Yorkshire's answer to champagne.
The broadcaster continues his exploration of some of Britain's best canals and their history. This week, he crosses Scotland on the Caledonian, which stretches 60 miles from coast to coast, on a journey taking him through spectacular scenery and lochs, and the occasional whisky distillery - much to his delight.
The broadcaster journeys along the Trent and Mersey in the Midlands as his exploration of some of Britain's best canals and their history continues. As he travels through the Potteries, managing to smash his fair share of ceramics, he encounters a frightening, ghostly tunnel and takes up the challenge of a blind beer-tasting competition.
The broadcaster navigates the Kennet and Avon Canal from Bath toward London, as his exploration of some of Britain's best waterways and their history continues. Along the way, he proves hopeless at making beer barrels, a little better at stoking steam engines, and a real natural with Freddy the narrowboat horse.
On the penultimate leg of his voyage exploring some of Britain's best waterways, the broadcaster heads into Birmingham, a city with more canals than Venice. Along the way, he delves into the history of Cadbury in Bournville, enjoys a refreshing pint, finds out why Birmingham is the nation's curry capital - and tries to buy a gun.
On the final stretch of his voyage exploring some of Britain's best waterways and their history, John Sergeant navigates his way along the Grand Union Canal, discovering amusing characters and places on his route from Birmingham to the centre of London.
The series starts with John navigating the Peak Forest Canal, which runs through stunning countryside from Buxworth in Derbyshire to Ashton-under-Lyne. Along the way, in Hyde he meets former boxer Ricky Hatton, who discusses his plans to revitalise the area and offer new opportunities to local youngsters, and joins a team of junior archaeologists at Mellor Mill, who are attempting to unearth the remains of what was once one of the world's largest mills.
The broadcaster leaves central Manchester, heading east along the Rochdale Canal. Not long into his journey, John finds himself struggling to contend with 19th-century technology at a cotton works. Further up the canal, he helps out members of an conservation group clearing the waterway of dumped supermarket trollies. After passing into West Yorkshire, it's on to Hebden Bridge, famous for the hard-wearing material corduroy, before John tries his hand at clog-making in one of Britain's few remaining factories dedicated to the craft.
The broadcaster takes in the delights of the Lancaster Canal, setting out from Tewitfield. As he meanders down the waterway, John cannot resist visiting Carnforth railway station, where he re-enacts his favourite scene from the classic film Brief Encounter, some of which was filmed there. After Carnforth, the canal crosses the River Lune on its way to Lancaster, where the veteran journalist marvels at the engineering of the Lune Aqueduct. Later, he heads south to Garstang, famous for its cheeses, and finally on towards Preston.
John travels down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, one of the oldest and prettiest canals in Britain, setting off from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands down to the River Severn.
John is barging his way along the Oxford Canal, which meanders through the heart of the gentle English countryside until it reaches the River Thames in Oxford.
The Regent's Canal runs through the heart of London linking the docks with the rest of Britain. John navigates the history-filled route, finding the East End's haunted Ragged School, and making and sampling a bottle or two of `mother's ruin' along the way. The veteran broadcaster even finds time to stop off to feed the giraffes at London Zoo. Last in the series.
