How to watch BBC iPlayer abroad with ExpressVPN

I’ve recently been caught out by a series of flight delays. And I’m not always great at using that extra time wisely. So instead, I try to catch up on any TV programmes I am watching back home.

Lately, I’ve been watching Half Man on BBC iPlayer. And I sometimes dip into Masterchef, because I have a slight obsession with cooking programmes. So when a recent flight home from Verona was delayed by three hours, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

But here’s the thing, many streaming sites like BBC iPlayer are geo-restricted. So this means iPlayer won’t work if you’re trying to watch it outside of the UK. Which I was.

All is not lost, though. With ExpressVPN, I can switch my virtual location back to the UK and watch BBC iPlayer as if I were back home. Read on to find out how I do it!

Watch BBC iPlayer now with ExpressVPN

Why is BBC iPlayer blocked outside the UK?

The simple answer is that the BBC is funded by the UK TV licence, which UK households pay for. Because licence payers are essentially funding the content, the BBC restricts iPlayer to viewers based in the UK.

There’s also a licensing side to it. The BBC doesn’t always own the international rights to the shows and films on iPlayer, so streaming them outside the UK would mean stepping on agreements with other broadcasters around the world.

The way iPlayer enforces this is by checking your IP address when you log in. If your IP shows you’re outside the UK, you’ll get a polite message telling you the content isn’t available in your region. And that’s where a VPN comes in: it gives you a UK IP address, so iPlayer thinks you’re back home.

What you’ll need before you start

Before you can settle into that solid airport seat with your favourite BBC show, there are a few things to get sorted:

• A BBC iPlayer account
• A reliable VPN (I use ExpressVPN)
• Your device
• A UK TV licence (more on this below)

How I watch BBC iPlayer abroad with ExpressVPN

Once you’re set up, the whole process takes me about two minutes. If you don’t already have a VPN, here’s what to do to start watching BBC iPlayer abroad. Already got one? Skip to step 3.

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN: Head to the ExpressVPN website and pick a plan. I’d recommend the longer subscriptions for better value, especially if you travel often.
2. Download the app: Install ExpressVPN on whichever device you’re planning to watch on. The apps are available for phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs.
3. Connect to a UK server: Tap the location selector, choose a UK server (London usually works well for me), and hit connect. You’ll know it’s worked when the app shows a green “connected” status.
4. Head to BBC iPlayer: Open the iPlayer website or app, log in to your BBC account, and pick what you want to watch.
5. Press play and enjoy: That’s it. iPlayer should now load as if you were back in the UK.

If iPlayer doesn’t load straight away, it’s usually a quick fix. I’ve covered the most common issues in the FAQs at the bottom of this post.

Using ExpressVPN on different devices

I have ExpressVPN downloaded on all of my devices, including my laptop and my phone. This means that I can watch BBC iPlayer from either device. I tend to use it on my laptop when in hotel rooms, and my phone whilst on the move, in the airport or on transport.

You can also download ExpressVPN on other devices, like your tablet, or even your smart TV and router back home.

With one ExpressVPN account, you can use between 10 and 14 devices simultaneously (depending on your subscription). This is on the higher end when compared to other similar VPNs. And one of the many reasons I love ExpressVPN!

Why I use ExpressVPN for iPlayer

I’ve tried a fair few VPNs on my travels (you can read my full ExpressVPN review here), and ExpressVPN has consistently been one of the most reliable for unblocking BBC iPlayer. Plenty of VPNs claim to work with streaming platforms, like iPlayer, but many of them don’t.

Some VPNs can get past this geo-block, but then struggle to stream the TV program without buffering every 2 minutes. ExpressVPN has been quick enough to keep my streams playing.

It also helps that there are a couple of UK servers to choose from. If one isn’t working with iPlayer on a given day, I can switch to another in seconds and usually be back up and running.

It’s not the cheapest VPN out there, but for me, the reliability and speeds are worth paying for. It ticks both the necessary boxes: it gets past the geo-block and is fast enough to actually watch.

My final thoughts

Honestly, VPNs have been a bit of a lifesaver for me as a traveller. Not only from a safety perspective, keeping my private data secure whilst using unknown networks, but from a sanity perspective.

Being able to watch BBC iPlayer abroad has genuinely made flight delays and lazy evenings in my hotel a lot more fun. Whether I’m halfway through a gripping series like Half Man or just want a bit of background comfort viewing with Masterchef, I love being able to access my home comforts.

ExpressVPN has been one of the most consistent VPNs I’ve found to do it. It has a handful of UK servers to choose from, high speeds for streaming, and has been one of the best VPNs for passing geoblocks.

If you’re a fellow traveller and a regular iPlayer viewer, it’s well worth setting up ExpressVPN before your next trip. You’ll thank yourself the next time your flight is delayed by three hours. Or that pesky jet lag has kicked in, and you need something to watch whilst you are wide awake at 3 am in an unknown country.

Get started with ExpressVPN here

FAQs