Great Canal Journeys - C4

Pictured: Tim and Pru with their Family — (Image credit: SpunGoldTv)

Great Canal Journeys, one of the great unsung gems of current TV, gets a poignant one-off special

In the latest one-off episode of the series Great Canal Journeys, we learn that messing about on the river has brought great joy to the lives of actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales for over 40 years (Sunday, 8pm, see our TV Guide for full details).

Pru enjoys a cool glass of wine – and why not?

They first fell in love with canal boating on the Oxford Canal where they meandered along with their young family. In this one-off special, they return to Oxford once more to enjoy the gentle waters, but also reflect on the narrowboat adventures they’ve enjoyed all over the UK and world.

MORE: Sam West on mother Prunella Scales’s dementia

Their daughter Juliet and sons Sam and Joe join in the fun, as well as a wonderful gaggle of grandchildren and great grandchildren as they reach their final destination.

The celebrations are also tinged with sadness however, as Tim reflects on Pru’s worsening dementia, changing the life they have shared for over 50 years.

TV Times rating: ****