TV favourite John Sergeant takes a canal trip out of the ordinary

The former BBC political correspondent travels across the iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct for his new series on our waterways.

Sergeant, who also became well known for his appearance on the reality show Strictly Come Dancing, described the eight-part ITV series Barging around Britain as "the most exciting canal programme you'll ever see".

Llangollen and the aqueduct features in episode two of the series, which which airs on Friday .

Mr Sergeant said travelling over the aqueduct was one of his favourite moments of the series, saying: "Amazing. It was quite spectacular and a real highlight of the trip."

The episodes also features Mr Sergeant getting his fingers burnt attempting to be a blacksmith, and being shocked by "some saucy artwork on a fellow narrow boat".

Mr Sargeant said the series is anything but an ordinary journey on the canal.

He said: "There are so many twists and turns, you think it's just going to be an ordinary journey but it doesn't have that ordinariness about it.

"There are people we meet that will surprise and interest you and there are scenes that I don't think people will expect in a travelogue. So we're trying to get a mixture between telling people exactly where we are and it's a beautiful day and it's British summer, but also having a bit of fun.

"But the amusing bits come out of the people we meet and the places we go. We're not trying to impose comedy on the canals but the comedy naturally stems from the scenes we come across."

He added: "Making it was just so enjoyable, so when people see it in the winter when it's cold, they'll just think, 'Ah'.

"It was wonderful and it's an eye-opener for people who don't know about the canals.

"People might think it's going to be for people who are interested in boats or boring machines and diesel engines but it's not meant to be about that, it's meant to be a case of, 'come and enjoy it with us'."