Watch Narrow Escapes on Channel 4

In Narrow Escapes we meet those who call our canals home. Whether it be retirees looking for freedom, young people searching for an affordable alternative to the cost-of-living crisis, newlyweds, families or divorcees, we’ll be introduced to a new and vibrant community made up of people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds.

From continuous cruisers to business owners operating from their boats and the workers and volunteers on land who maintain the waterways, Narrow Escapes is a snapshot of modern life on the canals.

Filming with our charity

Throughout the series you’ll see our volunteers helping boaters through the locks, keeping canals clear of litter and helping to create homes for nature along the towpaths. At Caen Hill, volunteers Kim and Ian help boaters Amy and Wes tackle the flight of 29 locks.

Filming in Birmingham

Meanwhile in Birmingham, volunteer leader Shashi and urban engagement manager Taz take the litter boat out with a team of volunteers who work together to keep the city’s canals clean. They visit the Wild in Birmingham project, where volunteers have planted a towpath orchard and herb garden. Afterwards, Taz meets with his social prescribing walking group and they talk a stroll along some of Birmingham’s towpaths.

Taz said, "It was an honour to be asked to participate in the filming of Narrow Escapes. Having worked in the Pharmaceutical industry for a decade, I am now promoting healthy lifestyles and improving mental health of Ladywood residents through my role as urban engagement manager at the Trust. Through green social prescribing, we’re helping to reverse or control conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and raised cholesterol.

"The Birmingham Mainline Canal in Ladywood and Soho Loop Canal are my favourite local canal places despite being an overlooked part of the canal network. I’m helping to change that by co-creating and delivering wellbeing activities in partnership with local partners including Broadway Health Centre where my ‘Walk with a Doctor’ was first launched."

Creative director, Heidi Gomes, said, "Filming on boats was always lots of last-minute fun. One of the things we hadn’t anticipated, was the space on board for filming, so usually if we had a production team member on board as well as our cameraperson, they’d have to hide in the narrowboat bathroom or cupboard spaces, or even on the roof, so as not to be in shot.

"Before we began working with Canal & River Trust on the series, I had no idea that they are a charity and rely so heavily on public support. Having seen the incredible work they do and facilitate first-hand, and the amount of work that is needed to maintain the waterways as they try to keep up with busy 21st century life, we really hope that the programme highlights their work and need for public support. We hope the series encourages people to head down to their local canals and rivers, support the Trust and watch the adventures of those in Narrow Escapes."

How to watch

The first episode will air on Channel 4 on Monday 29 April and the show will go out on weekdays at 4pm. For those who can’t wait for more - the first full week will also be streaming as a boxset on the Channel 4 website.