How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing from Anywhere

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How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing from Anywhere: A Summary

There are a few places to watch Strictly Come Dancing online. However, the best way to enjoy all of the dances online is by using BBC iPlayer. It’s free to use, and with a VPN, you can watch BBC iPlayer without being blocked by geographical restrictions. Here’s how:

  1. Choose a VPN service. We recommend CyberGhost for the best streaming experience. They offer a 45-day money-back guarantee you can use as a free trial.
  2. Download the VPN client and install it on your device.
  3. Run the VPN client, then find a UK VPN server and connect to get a UK-based IP.
  4. Open the Strictly Come Dancing homepage on the BBC iPlayer website.
  5. Register for a BBC iPlayer account.
  6. Enjoy Strictly Come Dancing online!

Aside from BBC iPlayer, you can also watch Strictly Come Dancing:

  • On Apple TV for a one-off fee per episode or per series
  • On the Microsoft Store for a one-off fee per episode or per-series

If you’re curious to find out more about Strictly Come Dancing and how you can watch Strictly with a VPN, check out the full article below.

Strictly Come Dancing, or simply Strictly, as fans like to call it, has been capturing the attention of audiences across the UK and beyond for years. It was even nominated for and has won several BAFTAs! With international celebrities like Michelle Visage and Jason Bell having been invited on the show, and the online success of some of the professional dancers, like Dianne Buswell, it’s no surprise that fans from abroad are tuning in for this dance competition.

Chances are you’re reading this article because you want to know how to watch Strictly Come Dancing from anywhere in the world. Well, you’re in luck. Even if you’re located outside the UK, you can watch Strictly Come Dancing with a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Where is Strictly Come Dancing Available Online?

Strictly Come Dancing is produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and airs on BBC One every year. This means you’ve got limited options when it comes to watching Strictly Come Dancing online. Like most regional TV programs, you won’t be able to stream Strictly on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu.

To watch Strictly Come Dancing online, you’ve got a few options:

The show was also previously available on the Google Play store, but it has since been discontinued there. Currently, BBC iPlayer is the only place to watch Strictly Come Dancing for free online.

However, if you’re not located in the United Kingdom, you’re going to need to make it appear as if you’re in the UK in order to be able to able to stream Strictly. This is due to geographical restrictions (geo-blocks) that limit visitors from outside of the country.

Fortunately, it’s quick and easy to change your IP address and get a UK IP address by using a VPN. When you use a VPN to change your IP, you’ll be able to unblock websites in other countries and watch this year’s celebrities impress the judges, no matter where you are in the world. We’ll explain exactly how this works for each of the streaming services mentioned.

How to watch past seasons of Strictly

Most streaming services will only allow you to stream the most recent seasons of this British dance competition. While this works for fans who like to watch live and never miss an episode, it can be a struggle when you want to watch back a specific episode or season from a couple of years ago.

Would you like to watch actress Maisie Smith and her partner Gorka dance their amazing Jive again? Or do you want to experience Ann Widdecombe’s full journey with Anton du Beke back in 2010? While it’s hard to watch full past seasons of Strictly online, you can buy the DVDs on websites like Amazon.

Watching Strictly Come Dancing Live on BBC iPlayer

The BBC iPlayer is a central hub for most of the TV programs produced by the BBC in England. You can watch BBC live via this stream. Once a show has been aired, you can even catch it on the media player for a short time afterward.

Bear in mind that you’ll normally only find the most recent seasons of a program, but that does mean you can watch the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing online. This includes the Launch Show, all dances, every performance during movie week and musicals week, the final, and the Christmas Special.

If you haven’t done so yet, and you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer anywhere in the world, just follow the steps below:

  1. Choose a VPN provider. To watch Strictly, we recommend using CyberGhost to get a UK IP address. Click the button at the bottom to be taken straight to CyberGhost’s website.
  2. Download and install the VPN client and create an account, then sign in. You can just sign in if you already created an account on the website.
  3. Launch the VPN client, then find a UK VPN server and connect. This will change your IP address to a UK IP.
  4. Go to the Strictly Come Dancing homepage on BBC iPlayer.
  5. Click on the “Sign in” button at the top of the page. Then, click on “Register now“.
  6. Create a BBC iPlayer account for free access to BBC shows.
  7. You’re done! Now, you can either watch BBC One live or return to the list of episodes, and watch Strictly Come Dancing for free!
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Screenshot of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC iPlayer website

Watching Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV

Apple TV typically has the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing. Like with any Apple TV program, you can also stream it straight on your smart TV. Unfortunately, it’s not free. If you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV, you’ll have to pay:

  • £2.49 for a single episode
  • £12.99 for a season pass that will let you watch the whole of the latest season (even if it’s still in progress)

If you want to watch Strictly on Apple TV, all you need to do is open the Strictly Come Dancing page and click on “Watch on Apple TV“. This will take you to the iTunes Store, where you’ll be able to buy a single episode or a season pass.

If iTunes isn’t available from your country, then you’ll need to change your iTunes location. While you can change your iTunes location in your settings app on any Apple device, you’ll lose access to your previous purchases until you change it back. Sometimes, it’s just easier to create a new Apple account, and you might need to do so to access the content from your country. Here’s how you can easily watch Strictly Come Dancing on Apple TV:

  1. Sign out of your Apple ID on the device you want to use to watch Strictly.
  2. Create a new Apple ID and select the United Kingdom as your location.
  3. Sign in to your new Apple ID and purchase a UK Apple iTunes gift card.
  4. Load the balance onto your temporary Apple ID account.
  5. Open the Strictly Come Dancing page on Apple TV.
  6. Now, you’ll be able to buy episodes of Strictly Come Dancing.

Watching Strictly Come Dancing on the Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store usually has the biggest selection of Strictly Come Dancing episodes out of any website. You’ll normally find the latest three or four seasons available to stream here. However, much like with Apple TV, it’s not free to watch Strictly via Microsoft. Instead, you’ll have to pay a one-off fee for every season you want to watch. Pricing normally looks a little something like this:

  • £9.99 for one-off SD (standard definition) access to a single season
  • £12.99 for one-off HD (high definition) access to a single season

You can also buy a season pass (at a variable price) for a season that’s in progress.

That said, sometimes, the pricing can vary. Some of the seasons offered by Microsoft are being charged at around £20.99. When you compare this to the average cost of a single-month subscription to a premium VPN, you get much better value for money by using a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer. Still, it’s good to know all of the options available.

To watch Strictly Come Dancing online via the Microsoft Store, head over to the Strictly Come Dancing page and check out the purchase options. The good thing about this store is that it isn’t limited to the UK. We’ve tested access from outside of Europe, and the page is still available to non-UK visitors.

The Best VPN to Watch Strictly Come Dancing Online

With a VPN, you’ll be able to change your IP address and masquerade as a user from the country of your choice. No more pesky geo-blocks means no more blocked websites. However, you should be aware that some VPNs are better than others for streaming.

When you’re choosing a VPN, you should have a few factors at the forefront of your mind. Of course, you’ll want to avoid spending too much. You’ll also want to consider the level of security you need, the number of servers offered by a VPN provider, and the connection speeds available. If you’re planning on binge-watching as much Strictly Come Dancing as possible, you’ll also want to avoid data caps.

To watch Strictly Come Dancing online anywhere in the world, you’ll want to choose a VPN that offers:

  • VPN servers in the UK, so that you can get a UK IP address
  • A money-back guarantee, as you might be able to finish the show before you’re charged for the first month
  • Dedicated streaming servers with fast and reliable connections

With all of the above in mind, we’re confident that the best VPN to watch Strictly Come Dancing online is CyberGhost.

CyberGhost: Watch Strictly Come Dancing for free

CyberGhost checks all of the boxes we’ve laid out above. You’ll easily be able to find a VPN server in the UK and change your IP address to a UK-based IP. You’ll also have access to dedicated streaming servers that offer some excellent speeds. There’s no monthly data cap either, so you can stream Strictly Come Dancing to your heart’s content. We like to think that even Craig would give this VPN a 10.

CyberGhost also offers one of the longest money-back guarantees we’ve seen. You’ll have 45 days to change your mind and cancel before being charged. Although this won’t be enough to watch a full season of Strictly live, it can definitely help you watch the final of this exciting dance competition, no matter where you are in the world.

That said, we advise you to consider the other benefits of a VPN before thinking about canceling. Using a VPN online is much safer than surfing without one — and it’ll allow you to stream many of your favorite shows and streaming services, even when you’re abroad.

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Can I stream Strictly with a free VPN?

Although some free VPNs might work with a streaming service like BBC iPlayer, we don’t recommend using them. For streaming, a free VPN usually won’t work well. Free VPNs mostly impose data and speed limits, which will hamstring you if you’re trying to watch or download more than a single episode of most shows online. Instead, getting a free trial with a premium provider will work much better.

Why You Need a VPN to Watch Strictly Come Dancing Online

The reason you can’t find Strictly Come Dancing on Netflix or other streaming services is the same reason you can’t watch it outside the UK on BBC iPlayer. If you try to watch iPlayer without a VPN, you’ll get an error message that says: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.” This means that the BBC is using geographical restrictions to prevent you from watching due to broadcasting rights.

The good news is that it’s still possible to watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. Geo-blocks are no match for the best VPN providers. With a VPN, you can unblock websites reliably and access blocked content.

Curious about how a VPN works? When you connect to a UK VPN server, your data traffic is routed through the VPN server. In turn, this changes your IP address and gives you a UK-based IP instead. When you then connect to the BBC’s website, the website thinks you’re browsing from inside the United Kingdom.

More Information About Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing first aired in the UK in 2004. Since then, it has become a fan favorite. Originally, the show was presented by Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth, a legend in British entertainment television.

The premise of the show involves pitting dance couples against each other and having their efforts graded by a panel of judges. The dance couples are created by matching UK celebrities with professional dancers, who will teach them popular dances like the Cha-Cha-Cha, Tango, and American Smooth every week. On Saturday, the stars take to the dance floor and attempt to impress the judges.

(Spoilers!) In 2020, comedian and musician Bill Bailey managed to take home the glitter ball trophy with his professional dance partner Oti Mabuse. Others who took part in this season were Max George, Maisie Smith, Jamie Laing, Nicola Adams, Jacqui Smith, Jason Bell, Clara Amfo, HRVY, Ranvir Singh, JJ Chalmers, and Caroline Quentin.

With the success of the show, the concept of Strictly has spread to more than 50 countries worldwide, with many variations of the program sparking up around the globe! Big-name musical acts like Taylor Swift and Little Mix regularly appear to support the program with music, too.

Strictly Come Dancing: Series 19 (2021)

The line-up and couples for this year’s Strictly competition have been revealed. Taking part in 2021 are:

  • Tom Fletcher & Amy Dowden
  • Robert Webb & Dianne Buswell
  • AJ Odudu & Kai Widdrington
  • John Whaite & Johannes Radebe
  • Rhys Stephenson & Nancy Xu
  • Sara Davies & Aljaž Škorjanec
  • Katie McGlynn & Gorka Marquez
  • Dan Walker & Nadiya Bychkova
  • Tilly Ramsay & Nikita Kuzmin
  • Greg Wise & Karen Hauer
  • Nina Wadia & Neil Jones
  • Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice
  • Adam Peaty & Katya Jones
  • Judi Love & Graziano Di Prima
  • Ugo Monye & Oti Mabuse

Strictly airs every Saturday from September 11 onwards, with the results show on Sunday evening, both on BBC One.

Curious what all the fuss is about? Check out one of the launch trailers for this year’s season of Strictly Come Dancing below.

Final Thoughts

Strictly Come Dancing started as a prime-time, Saturday night entertainment show in the UK more than a decade ago. Now, it’s a worldwide phenomenon! If you want to watch Strictly Come Dancing online while abroad, you’ll need BBC iPlayer and a VPN. Fortunately, installing a VPN is safe, inexpensive, and very easy.

How to Watch Strictly Come Dancing from Anywhere: Frequently Asked Questions

Strictly Come Dancing is a worldwide success, and we hope that you’ve been able to catch the latest showdowns by using a VPN. If you’ve still got questions about Strictly, check out our frequently asked questions below!

Your best option for watching Strictly Come Dancing online is to use the BBC iPlayer. On BBC iPlayer, you can watch back the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing entirely for free.

  1. Choose a VPN provider like CyberGhost.
  2. Download and install the VPN client.
  3. Launch the VPN client, then connect to a UK VPN server.
  4. Search for Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer.
  5. Register for an iPlayer account.

Now, you’ll be browsing with a UK IP address, which means you can use the BBC iPlayer! Need a little more help? Check out our full article on watching Strictly online.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most recent winners of Strictly. WARNING: there are spoilers ahead! If you don’t plan on watching the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing, you can find out who won below.

  • Season 18 (2020): Bill Bailey & Oti Mabuse
  • Season 17 (2019): Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse
  • Season 16 (2018): Stacey Dooley & Kevin Clifton
  • Season 15 (2017): Joseph McFadden & Katya Jones

Sort of! Dancing with the Stars is the name of a collection of international television programs that are based on the same format as Strictly Come Dancing. Stricly has been running since 2004, and the success of the show has inspired spin-offs around the globe. Chances are that if you enjoy Strictly Come Dancing, you’ll enjoy Dancing with the Stars too! That should keep you busy for a few weeks or months. Just remember, you can watch programs in other countries by using a VPN.

Cybersecurity journalist
Chris is a tech journalist with many years' experience covering the latest news in online privacy and cybersecurity. He's also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.