Canal Boat Diaries Series 7 Commissioned: Robbie Cumming Plots a Wales-to-Yorkshire Voyage
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Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Stefanie Hutson
UKTV has commissioned a new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10×60′) for its free streaming service U and leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY, under licence from the BBC. Presenter and boater Robbie Cumming returns aboard his narrowboat, the Naughty Lass, for a fresh journey through Britain’s hidden waterways.
What Is Series 7 About?
This run follows Robbie on a brand-new route from Wales to West Yorkshire, capturing the reality of life on an aging narrowboat: remote canals, picturesque landscapes, industrial marvels, eerie tunnels and tricky lock flights—plus the inevitable running repairs along the way. It marks his first voyage to Wales by boat, including the UNESCO-listed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
“Crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will be a rite of passage for a boater like me,” says Robbie. “After a brief time in Wales, the plan is for Naughty Lass and I to weave our way across England… I’ve got the route planned—but I’ve absolutely no idea what will happen along the way, which is just how I like it.”
Given the height of the aqueduct and Robbie's always-fun commentary, we're just excited to see whether he has a total nervous breakdown going over it (because I definitely would). The new series will have ten hour-long episodes.
Who’s Making It?
Canal Boat Diaries is produced by Middlechild, with Stuart Woodman returning as series producer and David Sumnall as executive producer. The commission comes from Kirsty Hanson (Senior Commissioning Editor, Factual & Factual Entertainment) with Helen Nightingale (Head of Factual & Factual Entertainment Commissioning), and was ordered for U&YESTERDAY by Adam Collings (Director of Programming, Factual & Factual Entertainment) and Hilary Rosen (Director of Commissioning). Hanson says, “Robbie is the perfect travelling companion through Britain’s waterways,” while Collings calls the series “the perfect antidote to the demands of modern life.”
When and Where to Watch
Canal Boat Diaries Series 7 is filming now and will launch in the UK on U and U&YESTERDAY in 2026. In the US, you can check out past seasons HERE. There’s no US date yet for Season 6's US release, but it's great to know there's more on the way! Between the great scenery and the occasionally hilarious commentary, it's a lot more fun than you might expect of a show about boating at 3-4 miles per hour.
