world’s most scenic river journeys

There’s no better perspective on the world than from a boat on a river, as it gently wends its way through stunning landscapes and outstanding natural beauty. Bill Nighy narrates this visually stunning six-part documentary series, telling the stories of six epic river journeys through the characters who live and work on them. 

Winding through rivers in the UK and Europe, to Canada and the USA, each film will showcase its own beautiful and distinctive landscapes, from emerald green hills, ancient forests and biodiverse river deltas, to fairy tale castles, chocolate box villages and iconic cities. We will meet the rich diversity of people who live and work on the rivers, and jump on board their various boats, steering clear of the well-travelled tourist routes on the busiest rivers. We’ll hitch rides on fishing boats and barges, tugboats and yachts, even canoes and replica Viking Ships, hopping on and off to explore the wealth of hidden stories along the riverbanks. But the world’s most beautiful rivers aren’t only to be admired for their scenery — they are also working rivers, the lifeblood of nations and cultural highways, shaping and sustaining the people who live and work along their shores.

A Co-Production with BriteSpark East.

Broadcasters: Channel 5 (UK) and Smithsonian Channel Canada (Season 1 : 6 × 60′, Season 2: 10 × 60′)