Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth steer a 72-foot vessel along the waterways of Staffordshire, journeying along the Caldon Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal, to Stoke-on-Trent.

Ch1. Staffordshire
They begin their journey at Cheddleton Flint Mill, built in 1253, hearing why flint was such an essential pottery ingredient. Gyles pays tribute to one of his great heroes, the Potteries-born writer Arnold Bennett, and Sheila visits the former home of one of her heroes, the ceramic artist Clarice Cliff.

Ch2. Worcestershire
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.