Narrow Escapes — Season 1
From bobbing businesses to continuous cruisers, we meet the vibrant community who call the UK's canal network home
About this season
From bobbing businesses to continuous cruisers, we meet the vibrant community who call the UK's canal network home
Episodes (20)
1. Episode 1
Aired 29 April 2024 • 45 min
Carrie, a young woman from Doncaster, is moving from a three-bedroom house onto a permanently moored narrowboat called Mabel, which she plans to redecorate. In Derbyshire, father and son Paul and Chris run their floating pizzeria - The Waltzing Matilda - and travel the canals of the Peak District. And solo boater Emma is taking her newly renovated, historic narrowboat - The Dawn Piper - on an epic adventure. Plus, a visit to the Llangollen horse-drawn boats in Wales to see how canal boats were towed in the past.
2. Episode 2
Aired 29 April 2024 • 46 min
Carrie and her dog Winnie begin their new life on the water, but will their new sofa fit in their narrowboat? And Emma's boat springs a leak.
3. Episode 3
Aired 29 April 2024 • 46 min
As Emma heads towards Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, can her engine hold out long enough for her to realise her dream? And experienced boaters Paul and Anthony upgrade to a new eco-boat.
4. Episode 4
Aired 29 April 2024 • 46 min
Paul and Anthony take delivery of their new boat. And Gary, Nikki and their children Noah and Lily live their life on the move, continually cruising the canals.
5. Episode 5
Aired 29 April 2024 • 46 min
Carrie puts the finishing touches to her narrowboat, Mabel. Paul and Anthony take one final cruise on their old boat, Morning Star, before the big move to their new eco-boat.
6. Episode 6
Aired 6 May 2024 • 46 min
Vic and Jo cruise the Peak District looking for the perfect place to open their café. On the Oxford Canal, yoga instructor May builds a new yoga platform on her narrowboat roof.
7. Episode 7
Aired 6 May 2024 • 46 min
Comedian Joel is on a quest from London to unknown waters in search of a location for his gig. The Canal and River Trust litter boat continues its trawl of the Birmingham canals.
8. Episode 8
Aired 6 May 2024 • 46 min
Jo trials some new recipes for her cookbook on a Peak District towpath. And we meet Joe and Rachel, who have their work cut out renovating their new home, Windfish.
9. Episode 9
Aired 6 May 2024 • 46 min
Things get competitive for Nigel and Diane at Pennington Flash nature reserve on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and we learn about the Canal and River Trust team's mindful walks
10. Episode 10
Aired 6 May 2024 • 46 min
Rachel and Joe build a new kitchen for their boat, Windfish. It's cookbook launch day for Vic and Jo in the Peak District. And will Nigel and Diane make it to Standedge Tunnel?
11. Episode 11
Aired 13 May 2024 • 46 min
On the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Nick and Gina race to get their hotel boat ready for their guests' arrival. In Hertfordshire, Sam shows us his world on The Floating Bike Shop.
12. Episode 12
Aired 14 May 2024 • 46 min
Work on Kevin and Tina's boat continues, but will their plans to deliver it at a boat show be a wash out? Nick and Gina head to the Bingley Five Rise.
13. Episode 13
Aired 15 May 2024 • 46 min
Wes and Amy cruise the Kennet and Avon Canal looking for somewhere to moor up with Wi-Fi for their live-streaming jobs. The Lady Teal and guests travel up the Bingley Five Rise.
14. Episode 14
Aired 16 May 2024 • 46 min
Steve and Chris head to Chester to help plan their daughter's wedding. Sam finds a home for his towpath bike shop. Wes and Amy try the Caen Hill Locks.
15. Episode 15
Aired 17 May 2024 • 46 min
Will anyone buy any of Sam's restored bikes at his towpath bike shop? The Chamberlain fuel boat competes in a tug of war at the Norbury Festival.
16. Episode 16
Aired 20 May 2024 • 46 min
On the Oxford Canal, Jack and Gabby get to work on making their new boat environmentally sustainable. Tracey and Tim open their towpath dog treat business for the new season.
17. Episode 17
Aired 21 May 2024 • 46 min
On the River Lea, florist Roka takes her home-grown tulips to market. Tracey and Tim head towards Little Venice in London to launch their Accessible Waterways badge scheme.
18. Episode 18
Aired 22 May 2024 • 46 min
Tracey and Tim launch their accessible waterways scheme. And we meet Peter and Noni, who are navigating their way through Foxton Locks, one of the seven wonders of the waterways.
19. Episode 19
Aired 23 May 2024 • 46 min
Jack and Gabby struggle to put in their new chimney on the Oxford Canal, and theatre worker Ed's boat Womble is being surveyed and getting its tri-annual hull blacking.
20. Episode 20
Aired 24 May 2024 • 46 min
Jack and Gabby take their new boat for its first cruise, Ed shows off his culinary skills at a rooftop party, and Peter and Noni take their narrowboat Barbarella across the sea!