Want to access BBC Radio 5 Live, the Beeb’s free breaking news and sports station, from outside the UK? You can use a vpn – NordVPN works better – unlock 5 Live via BBC Sounds and listen to it normally, despite the latter’s international ban.
Why would you want to do it? Well, where do you start? 5 Live is the home of UK talk radio, covering the latest breaking news and sport, plus 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.
Its daytime production – from 5 live breakfast with Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, until Nicky Campbell’s phone call and 5 live unit with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton – keeping listeners up to date with the latest news. In the evenings and during the day on weekends, sport usually predominates with 5 live sport.
How to listen to BBC Radio 5 live
To access 5 Live’s stellar production, you have a variety of different options. Of course, a medium wave radio (tuned to 909 or 693) or a digital radio are possibilities, but if you don’t have one, the BBC Sounds website, the BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) and the BBC Radio 5 Live website are also available.
To listen, you’ll need a BBC account; register here.
And if you miss your favorite show, don’t worry. You can listen to them again via BBC Sounds, and most shows are also available as full podcasts or, like the Test Match Special Podcasta slimmed down version. Some, like those mentioned above Elis and Juan and Are you about? They are podcast shows that are then broadcast on 5 Live.
However, remember that international access to BBC Sounds was closed in July 2025. Although the decision was met with disbelief, there are still ways to access the platform if you are abroad. Read on to find out how.
Can I access BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds from abroad or while on holiday?
Yeah. UK residents who want to listen to BBC Radio 5 Live while traveling abroad can still access the BBC Sounds app via a VPN. We recommend NordVPN, which comes with a 75% discount and 3 extra months free…
How to unblock BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds with a VPN
If you’re outside the UK right now and can’t use BBC Sounds, you can still access the app thanks to the wonders of a VPN (virtual private network).
The software allows your devices to appear as if they are in your home country, regardless of where you are in the world. It’s ideal for listeners who are away for work or vacation and want a taste of home.
NordVPN is our favorite:
Tips to fix BBC sounds problems
If you still If you can’t access BBC Radio 5 Live through BBC Sounds, even with the help of a VPN, there are a few more things you can try.
Please ensure your BBC account is associated with a valid UK postcode such as W1A 1AA.
The BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android) won’t appear on the Play Store or App Store outside the UK, but you may be able to prevent 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’ve ranked the best VPNs for iPlayer, something we’ve resolved through extensive testing, if one of them works today there’s no guarantee that the same will happen tomorrow, in which case you can raise the issue with your VPN provider’s customer service 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 located outside 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 must log in if you want to download, follow and save programmes.
Visit the website linked above directly through a web browser and it works. It’s a crude solution and doesn’t include key features available on BBC Sounds, but you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live.
Additionally, only select radio content will be available on demand via the BBC Radio 5 Live website; Due to sports rights issues, many live commentary is unavailable. As a result, 5 Sports Extra is not available via BBC.com.
What are the highest rated programs 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 gained popularity. On average, listeners tune in six hours a week.
Its daytime production follows a set formula of news, interviews, debates and phone calls. 5 live breakfast with Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards It sticks to the news and delves into the biggest stories as well as some outlandish ones. Nicky CampbellThe phone call follows, offering listeners their opinion on the issues of the day, with Naga Munchetty Below and a combination of interviews and news articles.
Matt Chorley presents a political program that includes interviews with politicians and more light-hearted articles to observe events from the corner of your eye. 5 live unit with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton follows a similar pattern to Breakfast show.
In the evenings and during the day on weekends, sport usually predominates with 5 live sport with commentary on Premier League and Champions League football, rugby, tennis and Formula 1 depending on the schedule. However, anything sports-related happening around the world, regardless of its niche, is up for discussion if it is entertaining and interesting enough. Tony Livesey presents the evening program and offers a side view of the day’s events.
There are many podcast shows that air on 5 Live, and we will cover them in a later section.
What sport is available on BBC Radio 5 Live?
Pretty much anything you can imagine.
There is live football commentary from the Premier League, Championship, Champions League, Europa League, international football (including the World Cup), WSL, plus tennis coverage from Wimbledon, golf majors and Ryder Cupo, rugby Six Nations and Autumn Internationals and elite boxing coverage.
Cricket Commentary is available through Test Match Specialincluding Ashes 2025/26, albeit via sport-focused sister station 5 Live Sports Extra. The station’s audience grew by more than half a million in the quarter to October 2025.
However, please note that certain rights restrictions mean that it is not always possible to listen to a broadcaster live from abroad. It really varies depending on the sport and even the event, so check before trying to tune in.
What are the best BBC Radio 5 Live podcasts?
As we mentioned, 5 Live also streams much of its own podcast content.
The most listened to program among the under-35s group on BBC Sounds is a 5 Live staple. Elis James and John Robins features the comedians playing made-up games, making friends with Welsh people and generally chatting away. There are podcast releases every Tuesday and Friday, plus an extra exclusive BBC Sounds bonus. It has value.
Are you about? He has best friends, award-winning singer Tom Grennan and a show Presenter Roman Kemp, the self-confessed nepo son of Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, had fun, laughed and had heartfelt and moving conversations.
If football is your thing, there are The Wayne Rooney Show in which Kelly Somers and Kae Kurd join the legendary former Everton, Manchester United and England striker to discuss the latest stories and his own stellar career; Monday night club with Mark Chapman and guests including former professional Chris Sutton and journalist Rory Smith to analyze 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 Lioness talk.
For those who prefer an oval ball to a round one, weekly rugby union It’s for you. A combination of Chris Jones, Ugo Monye, Danny Care and Chris Ashton bring the latest news and plenty of jokes too.
5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce is a must-listen for lovers of the sweet science, as the journalist looks back at the latest fights with the help of retired pros (including former world champions Barry Jones, Carl Frampton and more), as well as some nostalgic looks back.
While The Ashes are on, so is the Test Match Special Podcast which recaps each day’s play while a test is on and brings the latest news, quizzes and fun 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 when you are abroad. We do not support or tolerate illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Future Publishing does not endorse or approve the consumption of paid pirated content.
