Want to access BBC Radio 5 Live – the Beeb’s free news and sports station – from outside the UK? You can use a VPN – NordVPN works better – to unblock 5 Live via BBC Sounds and listen normally, despite the latter’s international ban.
Why would you want to? Well, where to start? 5 Live is the home of British talk radio and covers the latest news and sport, as well as interviews and call-ins. Launched in March 1994, 5 Live now has 5.5 million weekly listeners, while its sports-focused sister station, 5 Sports Extra, has 1.4 million listeners and recently increased its share by 68% thanks to its Test Match Special cricket commentary.
His daytime outing – 5 Live Breakfast with Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, on Nicky Campbell’s phone call and 5 Live Player with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton – keeps listeners up to date with the latest news. In the evenings and on weekend days, sports tend to prevail 5Sports live.
How to listen to BBC Radio 5 live
To access 5 Live’s stellar output, you have a few different options. A medium wave radio (tuned to 909 or 693) or digital radio are of course possibilities, but if you don’t have one, the BBC Sounds website, BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) and BBC Radio 5 Live website are also available.
To listen you’ll need a BBC account – sign up here.
And if you miss your favorite show, don’t worry. You can listen to them again via BBC Sounds, with the majority of shows also available as podcasts, either in their entirety or, as Special Test Match Podcasta lighter version. Some, like those mentioned above Elis and John And Are you about it? are podcast-type programs which are then broadcast on 5 Live.
Remember though, in July 2025, international access to BBC Sounds was closed. While the decision was met with disbelief, there are still ways to access the platform if you’re abroad. Read on to find out how.
Can I access BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds from abroad or on holiday?
Yes. UK residents wanting to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live while traveling abroad can still access the BBC Sounds app via a VPN. We recommend NordVPN, which offers 75% off and an extra 3 months free…
How to unblock BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds with a VPN
If you’re currently outside the UK and unable to use BBC Sounds, you can still access the app through the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
The software allows your devices to appear as if they are back in your home country, no matter where you are in the world. Ideal for listeners traveling to work or on vacation who want a taste of home.
NordVPN is our favorite:
BBC Sounds Troubleshooting Tips
If you always If you can’t access BBC Radio 5 Live through BBC Sounds, even with the help of a VPN, there are a few other things you can try.
Make sure your BBC account is linked to a valid UK postcode, such as W1A 1AA.
The BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) will not appear in the Play Store or App Store outside the UK, but you may be able to work around this by changing your phone’s region in the settings menu.
The BBC, like most broadcasters and networks, is engaged in a never-ending cat-and-mouse battle with VPN providers.
Although we have ranked the best iPlayer VPNs, which we have developed through extensive testing, if one of them works today, there is no guarantee that it will work the same tomorrow, in which case you can raise the issue with your VPN provider’s customer support team and ask them to recommend the best server to connect to.
Can I listen to BBC Radio 5 Live from outside the UK without BBC Sounds?
You absolutely can. Listeners based outside of the UK can now access a limited selection of BBC audio programming via the BBC.com website and the BBC app (iOS/Android). And the good news is BBC Radio 5 live is one of them!
Although you can listen via BBC.com and the BBC app without an account, you need to log in if you want to download, follow and record shows.
Visit the website linked above directly through a web browser and it works. This is a rudimentary workaround that doesn’t include key features available on BBC Sounds, but you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live.
Additionally, only some radio content will be available on demand via the BBC Radio 5 Live website – due to sporting rights issues, many live commentary is unavailable. Therefore, 5 Sports Extra is not available via BBC.com.
What are the highest rated shows on BBC Radio 5 Live?
As the UK’s largest news and sports radio station, with 5.4 million listeners, BBC Radio 5 Live has recently grown in popularity. On average, listeners listen six hours per week.
Its daytime broadcast follows a set formula of news reports, interviews, discussions and phone calls. 5 Live Breakfast with Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards sticks to current events, digging deeper into the most important stories and some original ones too. Nicky CampbellThe telephone interview follows, giving listeners their say on the topics of the day, with Naga Munchetty next step and a mix of interviews and news.
Matt Chorley hosts a political show that includes both interviews with politicians and lighter reports to take a sideways look at events. 5 Live Player with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton follows a similar pattern to that Breakfast to show.
In the evenings and on weekend days, sports tend to prevail 5Sports live with commentary on Premier League and Champions League football, rugby union, tennis and Formula 1 depending on schedule. However, anything that happens in the world related to sports, regardless of its niche, is up for discussion, as long as it is entertaining and interesting enough. Tony Livesey hosts the late-night show, providing a sideways view of the day’s events.
There are many podcast-style programs broadcast on 5 Live, and we’ll cover them in a later section.
What sport is available on BBC Radio 5 Live?
More or less everything you can imagine.
There is live football commentary from the Premier League, Championship, Champions League, Europa League, international football (including the World Cup), WSL, as well as coverage of tennis from Wimbledon, golf majors and Ryder Cups, rugby union from the Six Nations and Autumn Internationals and elite boxing coverage.
Cricket commentary is available via Test Match Specialincluding the 2025/26 Ashes, but via sports-focused sister station 5 Live Sports Extra. The station’s audience grew by more than half a million in the quarter ending October 2025.
Please note, however, that certain rights restrictions mean that it is not always possible to listen to a channel live from abroad. This really varies by sport, and even event, so check before trying to connect.
What are the best BBC Radio 5 Live podcasts?
As we mentioned, 5 Live also streams a lot of podcast content.
The most listened to show among under 35s on BBC Sounds is a must-see on 5 Live. Elis James and John Robins features the comedians playing made-up games, making acquaintances with Welsh people and generally chatting. There are podcast releases every Tuesday and Friday, plus an added bonus exclusive to BBC Sounds. It has value.
Are you about it? has award-winning singer Tom Grennan and A show presenter Roman Kemp – the self-confessed nepo-baby son of Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp – throws the breeze, laughs and has some sincerely moving exchanges.
If football is your thing, there is The Wayne Rooney Show in which the legendary former Everton, Manchester United and England striker is joined by Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd to discuss the latest stories and his own stellar career; The Monday Night Club with Mark Chapman and guests including ex-pro Chris Sutton and journalist Rory Smith to dissect the Premier League weekend; And Women’s football weekly as Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie tour the WSL, with a healthy dose of Lionesses discussion.
For those who prefer an oval ball to a round ball, Weekly Rugby Union is for you. A combination of Chris Jones, Ugo Monye, Danny Care and Chris Ashton bring the latest news and plenty of banter too.
5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce is a must-listen for fans of the sweet science as the reporter looks back at the latest fights with help from retired pros (including former world champions Barry Jones, Carl Frampton and more), plus some nostalgic throwbacks.
While The Ashes are being broadcast, there is also the Special Test Match Podcast which recaps each day’s play while there is a Test, and brings all the latest news, quizzes and entertainment from Australia as the tour continues.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consumption of paid pirated content is not endorsed or endorsed by Future Publishing.
