Radio Times: Review by:; Jack Seale

Tim and Shane are on the home straight, but at times it’s not very homely. They prepare to leave the Moray Firth, turn right and head for England, braving the vicious North Sea. First they look round Banff, with its markedly European architectural style and dialect. Spall unfussily points this out in the manner of a bloke in a pub who knows many things but isn’t trying to use them to look good.

Then we’re round Rattray Head towards Stonehaven, into waters that switch from “Regent’s Park boating lake” to “washing machine”. This temporary peril is the same as in every previous episode, but who could ever tire of the sea, the coastal views or the Spalls’ ability to make us feel part of the family?

About this programme

1/4. The actor and his wife Shane begin the final part of their journey around Britain on board their barge the Princess Matilda. At Rattray Head in north-east Scotland, they turn right and head south for the first time - but struggle to cope with the inhospitable conditions they encounter as they venture into the North Sea. En route to the English sea border, they visit towns including Peterhead, Stonehaven and Eyemouth, but grow particularly fond of Banff in Aberdeenshire.