How to Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku Outside the UK

Wondering How to Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku Outside the UK?

BBC iPlayer, the UK’s leading streaming platform, provides exclusive access to diverse TV shows and serves as a premier video-on-demand service, offering flexibility in watching BBC content at the viewer’s convenience.

To watch your favorite shows and movies on Roku, you need to add BBC iPlayer from the Roku Channel Store.

However, if you’re located outside the UK and want to enjoy BBC iPlayer shows and movies on your Roku device, it can be a bit tricky. 

This is because setting up BBC iPlayer on Roku involves a different process compared to Android and iOS, as it doesn’t provide native VPN support.

But don’t worry; In this blog, I’ll guide you through the steps to easily watch BBC iPlayer on Roku, even if you’re not within the UK.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku Outside the UK

To watch BBC iPlayer Outside the UK on Roku, you need the following things:

• A reliable VPN that supports Roku 
• Britain Roku account 
• Set Up VPN on Roku to Watch BBC iPlayer

To identify the best VPN for BBC iPlayer on Roku outside the UK, I tested the top VPNs suggested by the most reliable sources, including TechRadar, TechCrunch, Tom’s Guide, Comparitech, and PCMag. Because of its great support for Roku devices through virtual router setup, or direct router setup, I believe ExpressVPN to be the best among all after testing.

Once you subscribe to a VPN, it’s time to create a UK Roku account. 

How to Set Up a UK Roku Account Outside the UK?

Here’s how you can set up a UK Roku Account Outside the UK:

• Install a VPN app on your desktop or laptop, then connect to a UK server ( I recommend ExpressVPN). 
• Make sure your location is off. 
• Go to https://my.roku.com/index in your browser and select “Create account.”
• Enter the required information and press “Continue.”
• Go ahead and choose your preferred payment method (such as PayPal or a credit card) and then click “Continue.”
• You will be prompted to input a UK zip code on the page. 
• Congratulations, your UK Roku account is set up now. 
• Reset your Roku device now, and then sign in using your UK Roku credentials. 
• To add a channel, enter BBC iPlayer and click Add. 

After setting up a UK Roku account and install BBC iPlayer, let’s explore how to link your Roku TV with a VPN to access content outside the United Kingdom.

Set Up VPN on Roku Outside the UK to Watch BBC iPlayer

Fortunately, there are two methods for set up a VPN on a Roku device:

• Connect to Roku while setting up a Virtual Router on your computer or laptop – Recommendation
• Configure a VPN on your home router, then connect Roku to it.

How to Set Up a VPN Virtual Router to Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku in the UK?

Window Users 

Here’s how to set up a VPN on a Windows laptop or PC to access BBC iPlayer Outside the UK via a virtual router:

• Install the VPN app on your Windows laptop or pc. I recommended ExpressVPN. 
• In the task bar, select the internet connection icon, and then select “Open Network & Internet Settings.“
• Turn on “Mobile Hotspot” by clicking the button on the left side of the screen. 
• In the next step, select “Status” and then “Change adaptor options.“
• Click “Properties” from the context menu when you right-click “ExpressVPN Tap Adaptor“.
• On the Sharing tab, choose the checkbox next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection“.
• Click “OK” after selecting the newly formed hotspot connection from the drop-down menu.
• Now you have a hotspot connection. 
• Open the VPN app on your Windows laptop or pc and connect the UK server. 
• Go to “Network” > “Set up connection” > “Wireless” on your Roku device.
• Select the Hotspot connection that your Windows device helped you setup. 
• Once your device is connected to the internet, go to BBC iPlayer and start streaming outside the UK.

Mac Users

Unfortunately, due to the insufficient security needed to set up a virtual router, ExpressVPN and NordVPN no longer provide PPTP & L2TP – IPSec protocol. To set up a virtual router on your Mac so you can access BBC iPlayer on Roku outside the UK, consider PrivateVPN.

Here’s how to set up a VPN on a Mac laptop or PC to access BBC iPlayer Outside the UK via a virtual router:

• Install a VPN app on your Mac – I recommend PrivateVPN. 
• Go to the PrivateVPN website now and select “My Account” from the top menu. 
• Click “Sign in” after entering your email address and the password you choose when signing up with PrivateVPN.
• Now pick “PPTP & L2TP – IPsec” from the “Manual Config” drop-down menu.
• The username, password, and server locations will be displayed. 
• Select Apple menu > System Settings on your Mac, then click VPN in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
• Select “L2TP over IPsec” by clicking “Add VPN Configuration” right now.
• Please enter the following details:
• Virtual Router Display Name: PrivateVPN Configuration: Default 
• Return to the PrivateVPN website and copy and paste any UK server address there. 
• Copy the username from the PrivateVPN website and paste it as your account name. 
• User authentication requires copying and pasting the password from the PrivateVPN website. 
• Public Key: 12355678
• At this point, select “Option” and check the box next to “Send all traffic over VPN connection.”
• Select “Create” from the menu. 
• Connect your Roku device to the VPN connection you just setup. 
• Sign Up with your UK Roku account and watch BBC iPlayer on Roku from Outside the UK.

How to Set up VPN on Home Router to Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku Outside the UK?

ExpressVPN has been used during the entire procedure. Use the following instructions to set up ExpressVPN on your home router if it is an Asus, Linksys, or Netgear device to stream BBC iPlayer in the UK on Roku:

For Linksys Routers:

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/app-for-routers-linksys/

For Asus Routers:

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/app-for-routers-asus/

For Netgear Routers:

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/app-for-routers-netgear/

For Manual Router Configuration:

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/#manual-router

Which Best Shows and Movies are Available to Watch on BBC iPlayer?

Here is the list of Best Shows and Movies to Watch on BBC iPlayer:

Best Movies to Watch on BBC iPlayer

• Octonauts
• The Witchfinder
• The Rap Game
• Big Hero 6
• Monarch of the Glen
• Show Trial All Season
• Made Of Steel Documentary
• One Hot Summer
• End Of Watch
• Murder in the Badlands
• New Zealand v Argentina
• England vs Tonga
• Newry City v Larne FC
• Hungary Womens v Northern Ireland Womens
• Relic
• His House
• Host
• Don’t Look Now
• Six Nations Rugby Championship 2023
• NIFL Irish Premiership
• House of Games
• This Farming Life
• Rowing World Championships
• Beyond Paradise

Best TV Shows to Watch on BBC iPlayer

• The Repair Shop
• Jamie Johnson
• Big Little Journeys
• Some Girls
• Topsy and Tim
• DNA Family Secrets
• Dickensian
• Love + Hate
• The Capture
• First Ladies of Hip-Hop
• Versailles
• Eternal Beauty
• Murder in the Badlands
• Saving Lives in Leeds
• Life and Death Row
• Borgen
• The Met
• The Apprentice S17
• Happy Valley S3
• Death in Paradise S12
• Top Gear
• Beyond Paradise
• Crazy Rich Agents
• Our Changing Planet
• Eastenders

Why is ExpressVPN the Best VPN to Download and Watch BBC iPlayer on Roku Outside the UK?

ExpressVPN is the best VPN to download and watch BBC iPlayer on Roku outside the UK. Here is why

It provides an extensive network of more than 3000+ servers in 105 countries, including 4 in the UK, and ensures that you can access your preferred content without any limitations.

Also, Its incredible streaming speed, which measures out to an astonishing 89.52 Mbps download and 85.65 Mbps upload on a 100 Mbps connection. This means smooth streaming in high resolution for on-demand content and even for live TV streaming.

ExpressVPN plays well with various devices, from PCs to PlayStation, Firestick, Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, and Smart TVs, seamlessly integrating into your entertainment lineup.

With support for up to eight simultaneous connections, it ensures both security and convenience, perfect for families or individuals with multiple devices. 

And with 25/7 live chat support, you never miss watching your favorite shows and movies on BBC iPlayer as well as other streaming services likeChannel 5, Sky Sports, ITVX and more.  

Also, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, showcasing its commitment to user satisfaction.

How VPN Allows Me to Watch and Download BBC iPlayer Outside the UK?

But, there’s a way around this! You can use a special tool called a VPN to make it look like you’re in the UK, and then you can download and watch BBC iPlayer like you’re there.

When you use a VPN and connect to a server in the UK, your device pretends to be in british by getting an british IP address. This tricks streaming into believing you are actually there since it is the only way to identify the user’s location. 

This lets you watch things that are usually only available in the UK from anywhere around the world.