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If you're travelling overseas and want to stream shows from BBC iPlayer — you'll need to be equipped with a VPN. Without one of these clever apps, you won't be able to watch anything on BBC iPlayer except the frustrating error message: "BBC iPlayer isn't available in your region".
iPlayer is geo-restricted because it's funded by UK households who pay the TV licence fee, which costs £174.50 a year or £14.54 a month. The restrictions also enable the BBC to strike licensing agreements for the UK, so shows and films that would otherwise appear on streaming services in other regions can be streamed on iPlayer.
On paper, that all makes sense. However, if you're a licence fee payer and you're halfway through a brilliant boxset when you travel abroad — it severely limits your options. You can download episodes for offline viewing before you leave the UK, but that only works if all episodes have aired. If the show is still currently airing... you've got no choice but to wait until you're back on British soil.
Unless you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
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Sign-up to an annual plan with ExpressVPN and unlock an additional four months of its award-winning service for free. ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, routers, and even gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. It offers 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, which serves like a free trial when signing-up to a longer contract to unlock the best VPN deal
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VPNs allow you to bypass these geographical restrictions by encrypting and routing all of your online traffic via one of its servers. Depending on the server location you choose, it can make it appear as though you're browsing from the UK, even when you're actually lounging on a beach in Spain or working from a café in New York.
With the right VPN service, you can access all your beloved British programming from anywhere in the world — just as if you were sitting in your living room back home.
When you connect to a UK server, websites and streaming services see your connection as coming from within the UK since the IP address, which is assigned when you connect to the internet, is from the correct territory.
Not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to streaming capabilities. Many streaming services actively block known VPN IP addresses.
ExpressVPN stands out as one of the best options for accessing BBC iPlayer from abroad.
It consistently unblocks the catch-up service by the BBC with reliable performance, thanks to its streaming-optimized servers. ExpressVPN has a dedicated team that works to ensure blocked IP addresses are removed from service, so you'll get a smooth connection.
Last year, BBC iPlayer reported a 10% rise in the number of streams compared with 2023, despite a drop in the total number of TV licence fee payers nationwide GETTY IMAGES BBC iPlayer is the BBC's streaming platform that offers a vast library of British content, including popular shows like Doctor Who, RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and EastEnders. The service provides both live streaming of BBC channels and on-demand access to recently aired programmes. You can enjoy everything from gripping dramas like Towards Zero to reality competitions like The Traitors UK and the triumphant return of Gladiators.
The platform works on smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. For UK TV licence holders, BBC iPlayer is completely free to use, requiring only a BBC account with a valid UK postcode.
Setting up ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad is straightforward.
First, you'll need to sign up for ExpressVPN and download the app onto your preferred device. Once installed, open the app and sign in using your credentials.
Next, connect to a server located in the UK. ExpressVPN offers multiple UK server locations, including London, Manchester, and Glasgow. After connecting to any of these servers, clear your browser's cache and cookies to remove any stored location data that might reveal you're abroad.
Now open BBC iPlayer in your browser or app and sign in with your BBC account.
If you don't already have one, you'll need to create a free BBC account using a UK postcode. Once signed in, you should be able to stream all your favourite BBC content just as if you were physically in the UK.
ExpressVPN works on virtually every device, including smart TVs and Android TV streaming devices, allowing you to watch on your preferred screen. You can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously with a single subscription, perfect for families travelling together.
The service also includes 24/7 customer support to help troubleshoot any connection issues you might encounter. ExpressVPN's proprietary TrustedServer technology ensures your data is wiped on every reboot — enhancing your privacy while streaming.
If you're not satisfied, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test it risk-free. With speeds exceeding 950 Mbps, you'll enjoy buffer-free streaming of your favourite BBC programmes in High Definition.
Is it legal to use a VPN with BBC iPlayer?
Using a VPN to access BBC iPlayer while abroad exists in a legal grey area. The practice itself isn't technically illegal, but it's prohibited in BBC iPlayer's terms of service.
After all, BBC iPlayer is only meant for UK residents with a valid TV licence. When you create an account, you confirm that you have a licence and are in the UK.
By using a VPN to access the service from abroad, you're technically violating these terms.
However, the BBC primarily focuses on preventing access rather than pursuing individual users. There have been no reported cases of legal action against individuals using VPNs to access BBC iPlayer from abroad.
If you're paying the licence fee and want to catch-up on the latest episode of The Traitors UK on holiday before it's ruined by spoilers ...that's very different to someone watching from outside of the UK without a licence fee.
Benefits of ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is particularly well-suited for streaming as it boasts VPN server locations in 105 countries providing access to global coverage. It offers ultra-fast speeds on a 10-Gbps network, essential for high-quality streaming without buffering.
With military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and features like split tunneling and a kill switch, your online activity stays private.
Based in the British Virgin Islands — outside Five Eyes jurisdiction — it avoids mandatory data retention laws, which means that even if the company was collecting data (it's not), law enforcement from the UK and US would be unable to compel ExpressVPN to hand over any information about its subscribers.
ExpressVPN supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and routers. There's no limit on the number of ExpressVPN apps that you can download on your devices, and with a single subscription, you can connect to the VPN on eight gadgets at once.
Virtual Private Networks, like ExpressVPN, mask your real location by routing traffic through servers in different countries, tricking services into thinking you're elsewhere EXPRESSVPN PRESS OFFICE It also has a dedicated team that optimises the service for major streaming platforms. Round-the-clock customer support is available if you encounter any issues during race weekend.
ExpressVPN isn't the cheapest VPN. However, its 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free choice for privacy-conscious users and frequent streamers.
It should also give new customers the confidence to subscribe to one of its longer contracts, which unlock the biggest discounts.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is software that protects and anonymises everything you do online. VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide.
The most reliable VPNs employ the same encryption standard as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) connected to Wi-Fi cannot record the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location. This protection extends to advertisers, trackers, and hackers, preventing them from monitoring your online behaviour.
Furthermore, personal information entered into online forms and sensitive data transmitted to and from your device will be safeguarded from hackers using strong encryption provided by a VPN.
