Ten years after the Brexit referendum that resulted in Britain’s decision to leave the EU, the BBC returns to the lead-up to this crucial vote with a two-part documentary series Brexit: a very British civil war.
The documentary begins with the election of David Cameron as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2015. Cameron pledged to allow a referendum on the United Kingdom’s place in the EU as part of his campaign for prime minister.
The new documentary will be broadcast in two parts – the first episode at 9 p.m. on Monday June 8 and the second a week later at 9 p.m. on Monday June 15. The documentary features interviews with major political figures, including former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson, as well as Nigel Farage, George Osborne and Michael Gove.
The series is directed by Max Stern, who also directed the BBC 2023 miniseries. Putin against the Westand produced by veteran documentary filmmaker Norma Percy, who in her 40-year career has produced dozens of documentaries, with a particular focus on the Middle East and global politics.
Here’s how to watch Brexit: a very British civil war online from anywhere.
How to watch Brexit: A Very British Civil War in the UK for free
How to watch Brexit: a very British civil war from anywhere
If Brexit: a very British civil war It looks like it’s right up your street, but you won’t be in the UK when it airs, so your access to the show might be geo-blocked. You can use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer when you’re abroad (but check that you’re not breaking the terms and conditions). You might be surprised how easy it is to set up, and we have a wide selection of the best VPN:
How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN
Use a VPN to watch Brexit: a very British civil war It’s easy with our practical guide:
- Download and install a VPN: Our top pick is NordVPN, but any of the best VPNs will work
- Connect to a UK server: Open your VPN app, click “Choose location” and select a UK server (or just select “anywhere in the UK”).
- Go to BBC iPlayer: Go to the BBC iPlayer website or app.
What devices can I watch BBC iPlayer on?
- Amazon Fire (tablets, Cube, Stick, televisions)
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- Android (mobile and tablet) – Android 7.0 and above
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- Freely
- Freesat (note: some models are not supported)
- Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models not supported)
- iOS (iPhone and iPad) – iOS 14 and above
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How to watch Brexit: a very British civil war around the world
How to watch Brexit: a very British civil war in other countries
There are no confirmed plans to bring Brexit: a very British civil war to the United States, Canada, Australia or other countries – we will update this page if it becomes available in other regions.
For UK residents traveling abroad, you can use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer – see our handy guide above for setup.
Brexit: a very British civil war
Brexit: a guide to episodes from the very British civil war
Episode 1: David Cameron’s victory in the 2015 general election paves the way for a referendum on Britain’s place in the EU. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage begins campaigning for Brexit.
Episode 2: Cameron and his allies, such as Chancellor George Osborne, are campaigning on an economic platform to try to keep Britain in the EU. London Mayor Boris Johnson is campaigning for the opposite as Farage’s own campaign gains momentum.
Who is interviewed in Brexit: A Very British Civil War?
According to the Radio Times interview with series producer Norma Percy, the series features interviews with every major figure involved in the campaign – apart from one elusive source who the team were unable to track down.
Interviewees include:
David Cameron – Prime Minister, 2010 – 2016, Minister of Foreign Affairs 2023 – 2024
Boris Johnson – Mayor of London, 2008 – 2016, Prime Minister, 2019 – 2022
Nigel Farage– Leader of UKIP, 2006-2009 and 2010-2016, Reform leader in the United Kingdom, 2024-present
George Osborne – Chancellor of the Exchequer, 2010 – 2016
Michael Gove – Various ministerial offices, 2010 – 2024
Peter Mandelson – Various ministerial cabinets, 1997 – 2004, 2025
Who wouldn’t be interviewed for Brexit: A Very British Civil War?
The same Radio Times interview mentioned above reveals that the documentary team were refused an interview with former government adviser Dominic Cummings for Brexit: a very British civil war.
Cummings notably served as an advisor to Boris Johnson before and during the COVID pandemic, where he broke lockdown rules.
Most relevant to this documentary, however, is his role as director of the Vote Leave campaign in the run-up to Brexit – but Cummings “firmly” refused to take part in the new series.
Brexit: a very British civil war – watch here
Here is the link to watch Brexit: a very British civil war when the first episode goes live at 9 p.m. on Monday June 8.
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