Great Canal Journeys

Sheila and Gyles embark on their tour of Staffordshire's waterways, navigating the Caldon and the Trent and Mersey Canals on a pilgrimage in the Potteries and Stoke-on-Trent

Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth explore the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. They uncover the history of Stourport, which only came into being after the canal was built there, which is unique for a British town. They explore the history of carpet manufacturing in Kidderminster and meet 84-year-old Audrey, who operated a daunting power loom for much of her working life. Gyles also dons a panto costume in Stourbridge to learn more about the local legend of Dick Whittington. When the duo reach Wolverhampton, they get a taste of the Desi pub, a modern institution in the Black Country that combines Punjabi food with British booze.