Great Canal Journeys

Who knew how beautiful a leisurely float through the British countryside could be. This show is like therapy for the eyes. Prunella is a peach and I know what I want to do with my life come summertime.

This programme is ostensibly a travelogue about canal and river journeys on barges, riverboats and other small craft.

But that's not why we watch it, I don't think. Two of the great British character actors of a former generation, they are two personalities redolent of our childhoods.

And they have a truly special relationship to which most can only aspire. GCJ charts their journey into an old age beset by Pru's failing health.

It's a true love story, and one of the most heartwarming programmes I've ever watched.

This programme caught me completely by surprise, I tuned in assuming it would be full of great scenery, amazing vistas and a little bit of history about the canals themselves... and it was, in fact the history aspect was extremely well covered by Tim, who is a very well informed man and a joy to listen to as his passion for the subject matter is mesmerising... but here comes the punch, through Tim and Pru, who are well into their 80s you get this fantastic insight into love, relationships and getting older. I found the journeys quite emotional, Tim and Pru's spirit of adventure lifted my heart so much as I watched them navigate the waterways. Absolutely brilliant, a hidden gem.

A brilliant series that works on so many levels - travelogue, history documentary, living with Alzheimer's story and, most successfully, insight into a couple who are still devoted to each other after so many years.

Happy to say that, after a number of e-mails to the production company Spun Gold and numerous promises of imminent dee vee dee (sorry, a rather over-zealous IMDb thinks capitalising dee vee dee is shouting) releases, I've finally heard that a two-disc 'highlights' package will be released on July 3rd. At last!

Having been a long time fan of Prunella Scales, I approached this series with interest. She was great as the long suffering Sybil Fawlty, and better still as Miss Mapp in the miniseries Mapp and Lucia.

Seeing her with her husband of many decades traveling down canals was a great treat. I was amazed that the couple found so many unusual and out of the ordinary places to visit.