River Tyne takes centre stage as Clare Balding jumps in for TV series
Clare Balding’s series exploring the UK’s rivers comes to an end in the North East this week as the TV presenter turns her attention to the Tyne.
Thursday’s (March 20) episode of Tales from the Riverbank on Channel 5 chronicles her water-focused adventures as she follows the river from Newcastle all the way up into Northumberland towards its source.
Starting at the Tyne Bridge with a trip up one of its iconic towers, the hour-long programme will see her kayaking under the Millennium Bridge; learning about George Stephenson and (separately) the Stottie during a trip to Wylam; sampling some baked delights during a drop in at Corbridge; and donning her waders for a lesson in fly fishing at Watersmeet.
Food certainly seems to be on her mind for this episode as she also makes sure to spend time in the kitchen of Northumberland’s first Michelin Star restaurant in the village of Wall.
Clare has a chat (and a bite) with Restaurant Hjem head chef, Alex Nietosvuori and manager Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori as they talk about taking menu inspiration from the river.
Full tummy sorted, viewers will then see Clare and the crew following the river north and stopping off at Chesters Fort for an insight into the region’s Roman history before visiting what she says was a quite spectacular riverside treehouse.
And if all that wasn’t enough, she also finds time to take in the beauty of Ospreys at Kielder - as well as the expansive wonder of its reservoir, of course.
Tales From The Riverbank: The Tyne will be broadcast on Channel 5 on Thursday (March 20) at 8pm and then available on catch up streaming service, 5.