The BBC has a rich history of producing some of the best sci-fi TV series of all time, and BBC iPlayer is also the home of the OG of all sci-fi series — Dr Who, which has been running since 1963.
However, for anyone travelling out of the UK, or for US-based sci-fi fans, the only way you can watch your usual streaming services, or access geo-restricted services including the BBC iPlayer, just as you would at home, is by using a VPN.
This limited-time NordVPN offer is one of the best VPN deals we’ve seen so far this year, and we recommend NordVPN as a perfect addition to your streaming services, allowing uninterrupted viewing of all your favorite sci-fi series when overseas, whether that’s for work or pleasure.
The BBC iPlayer also has almost every episode of Doctor Who, from the classic era, which first aired in 1963, right up to the modern era, and the best Dr Who spin-off shows like “Torchwood”, “The Sarah Jane Adventures”, “Class”, and the brand new spin-off, “The War Between the Land and the Sea”.
Paul Brett is a deals writer at Space, Live Science, and across the Sports and Knowledge titles at Future. Paul is a huge sci-fi fan, hooked on Star Wars from the moment he saw A New Hope in the cinema, and as part of his deals hunting role at Space, has started an unplanned (and expensive) Lego Star Wars collection.
The latest Doctor Who spin-off, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea’, is confirmed for release on Disney+ sometime in 2026. As Disney+ has its schedule set through April, the earliest possibility for US Dr Who fans is May 2026.
The 5-episode miniseries premiered on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer in December 2025, and the series follows the UNIT, a military organization defending humanity against the Sea Devils (Homo Aqua), an ancient species emerging from the ocean.
The show focuses on a “no Doctor” scenario to elevate the stakes, allowing humanity to handle the crisis themselves without the Doctor’s help, with Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), the commander in chief of UNIT and Barclay (Russell Tovey) at the forefront of the series.
If you can’t wait until ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea’ lands on US shores on Disney+, set to be released later this year, then NordVPN is the solution to geo-blocking when it comes to viewing the BBC iPlayer in the US.
Assuming it complies with your broadcaster’s T&Cs, you can use a VPN to unblock the services you’re subscribed to from anywhere, and allow for uninterrupted viewing of your binge-worthy sci-fi shows and movies. You will have to create and sign in to a BBC account to view BBC iPlayer.
NordVPN not only unlocks geo-restrictions but also offers ad blockers, anti-malware protection, a password manager and breach scanner, fast connections, and identity theft insurance. It means you can view and download content, work, and generally be online anywhere in the world with confidence.
By getting the Prime plan (other plans are available and prices vary, but so does what you get and the value of the Amazon voucher), you get a fast connection, anti-malware and browsing protection, an ad and tracker blocker, a password manager and breach scanner, 1TB of encrypted cloud storage, dark web monitoring, $1M in identity theft insurance cover and $100K in cyber extortion cover. It’s a win-win for online streaming and cybersecurity.
Key features: Up to 77% discount, up to $50 Amazon voucher, four months free, high-speed VPN, ad and tracker blocker, anti-malware protection, up to $1m in identity theft insurance and $100K in cyber extortion insurance, password manager and data-breach scanner, 1TB encrypted cloud storage and monitoring alerts and services.
Price history: Before today’s deal, the price of the “Prime” plan was $592.56 for 24 months, or $24.69 a month. It’s now up to 74% off and comes with the Amazon voucher worth up to $50, and four free months.
✅ Buy it if: You’re looking for maximum online security, you want to stream all your favorite shows anywhere in the world, you want a FREE Amazon voucher, and four free months.
❌ Don’t buy it if: Either you already have a VPN, or you’re not in the market for one. Those are the only reasons you wouldn’t make the most of this excellent value offer.
Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
