UKTV Play is a free-to-air on-demand streaming service in the UK, featuring a rich selection of British television content.
The service provides access to favourite shows from channels such as Dave, Yesterday, Drama, and W.
Users can also watch live TV and catch up on episodes they’ve missed. The platform has a user-friendly interface and personalized recommendations to improve the viewing experience.
However, the platform is only available in the UK. The only way to watch UKTV Play in Ireland is with the help of a VPN.
If you try to use it while in Ireland (without a VPN), you will encounter an error message like the one below:
“Error Code 2: Could not download the video. Please use the retry button.”
I was able to unblock UKTV Play in Ireland with the help of ExpressVPN. It is a safe, fast VPN with efficient servers.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice for streaming any geo-restricted services that are unavailable in Ireland OR it is used to stay anonymous over the internet for watching anything for free as it hides your streaming activity from the ISPs.
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How to Watch UKTV Play in Ireland
Before you can start streaming UKTV Play in Ireland with a VPN, you would first need to register your account with the service.
Registering is quite simple and doesn’t take much of your time. Once you have registered, follow these steps:
Step 1: Subscribe to a reliable VPN service (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download and Install the ExpressVPN app on your device
Step 4: Open the app and connect to a UK Server (e.g. Docklands)
Step 5: Open the UKTV Play website and click on “categories” from the menu bar to choose what you want to watch
Step 6: Click on a show to watch
Step 7: Click on the play button at the bottom left corner of the video
Step 8: It will ask you to register yourself. Click on “register”
Step 9: Fill in with all the required information
Step 10: It will ask you to confirm your email. Click on the “Continue” button
Step 11: Go to your mailbox and confirm your email by clicking on “click here”
Step 12: Now login and enjoy streaming the shows
Best VPNs to Unblock UKTV Play in Ireland?
I tested 35+ VPN services and concluded that there is no overall top VPN since they have distinct features that make them better than each other in different ways.
However, when it comes to watching UKTV in Ireland, we have shortlisted the 3 best ones to choose from.
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Streaming UKTV Play
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Servers | 3200 servers in 100+ countries |
| UKTV Play Server locations | Multiple servers in London, East London, Wembley, and the Docklands |
| Exclusive deal | €4.87/month (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Multi-Device Compatibility | Connect up to 8 devices at once – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Enhanced Streaming | Fast and throttle-free streaming with Smart DNS, Split Tunneling, and Lightway Protocol. |
| Top-notch Privacy | Digital privacy with 256-bit Encryption, Kill Switch, and No Log policy. |
Recommended Servers: London, East London and Docklands
ExpressVPN is our #1 choice to have a seamless streaming experience through the vast network of high-speed servers when watching your favourite shows and sports on geo-restricted services.
Speed Test: When I connected to the Docklands Server of ExpressVPN and tested its speed, it came out to be 41 Mbps out of 50 Mbps.
Beyond UKTV Play: You can access other geo-restricted channels/services in Ireland such as USA Network, PBS, Frndly TV, Prende TV, etc.
2. Surfshark – Most Affordable VPN for Unblocking UKTV Play
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Servers | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| US Server locations | Multiple servers across London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh |
| Price | Surfshark Price (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Device Compatibility | Unlimited devices – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Fast Streaming | Uninterrupted streaming with Higher bandwidth per user, and numerous servers |
| Added Privacy | Secure the connection with Camouflage Mode, AES-256-GCM Encryption, Kill Switch, and No-Logs Policy. |
Recommended Servers: London, Manchester, Glasgow
Surfshark is another VPN for accessing UKTV Play in Ireland. Its affordability and top-notch technology make SurfShark VPN a contender on our list.
Upon testing, I was satisfied with its efficiency in unblocking geo-blocked services and channels and full forward secrecy to protect my privacy.
The VPN service also helps unblock other geo-restricted channels/services in Ireland like 9 Now, Servus TV, 7Plus, Netflix, Prime Video etc.
3. NordVPN – Biggest Server Pool to Access UKTV Play
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Global Servers | 6000+ servers in 60 countries |
| US Server locations | 440+ Servers across UK |
| Price | NordVPN price (30-day money-back guarantee) |
| Device Compatibility | Up to 6 devices simultaneously – Windows, Android, Mac, and more |
| Enhanced Streaming | Faster streaming with a Wider server range & NordLynx Protocol. |
| Added Privacy | Military-grade encryption, Double VPN, CyberSec, and No logs policy, |
Recommended Servers: London, Edinburgh, Glasgow
NordVPN has a big pool of servers and offers smooth streaming. The VPN has a very user-friendly interface, so you can navigate through it conveniently.
When tested for unblocking UKTV Play, its vast network of servers provided a stable and fast connection for seamless streaming.
Besides UKTV Play, it also helps in accessing other geo-restricted channels/services in Ireland, like ORF, Hulu, FuboTV, Sling, BBC iPlayer etc.
Why Do I Need a VPN to Access UKTV Play in Ireland?
Due to licensing agreements and copyright management, UKTV Play doesn’t allow users outside the UK to access its streaming platform.
Since this service is only available in the UK, you must use a VPN to bypass its geo-restrictions.
A VPN changes your virtual location from one country to another. For example, if you connect to the UK server of a VPN, your device will be assigned a UK IP address.
That being said, you will be able to access the streaming service. Once you do that, you will be granted access to UKTV Play. ExpressVPN is our recommended choice.
What Can You Watch on UKTV Play in Ireland?
Are you confused as to what you can watch now that you’ve access to UKTV Play in Ireland? Well, here are the few popular shows on UKTV Play:
- A Place to Call Home
- Adolf Hitler’s War
- American Pickers
- Bad Girls
- Bergerac
- Copper
- Dave News
- Doctor Finlay
- Flack
- Fast Justice
- Mrs. Mandela
- Outsiders
- Peak Practice
- Private Lives
- Porters
- Rebus
- Sharpe
How to Watch UK TV Play Outside UK on Mobile
Here’s how you can access UKTV Play from your Android or iOS device:
Step 1: Download and Install ExpressVPN from the Play Store/App Store
Step 2: Connect to the UK server, i.e. Docklands
Step 3: Download the UKTV Play apk
Step 4: Install the app from the APK file
Step 5: Sign in using your credentials
Step 6: Go to the categories section from the menu bar at the bottom
Step 7: Choose a category, e.g, Drama, Entertainment, etc., and click on the “view entertainment A-Z” button
Step 8: Choose a show to watch
Step 9: Click the Play button
Step 10: Enjoy Streaming
UKTV Play Device Compatibility
UKTV Play is compatible with all of these devices:
- PC & Laptops (Windows, Linux & Mac OS)
- Mobile & Tablets (iOS & Android)
- Smart TVs & Set Top Boxes
- Amazon Fire Sticks and Fire TVs
- Chromecast
FAQs – UKTV Play
How can I get UKTV Play on my TV?
If you have a smart TV, you might have the option to get UKTV Play, however not many have it. Most new Samsung Smart TVs can access UKTV Play.
You can also use external devices like Amazon Fire Sticks and Chromecasts to give you access to UKTV Play on your Smart TV if it doesn’t have built-in functionality.
Can I set parental controls on UKTV Play?
Yes, you can set a Parental Control PIN in your account settings for each device. This will prevent anyone without the PIN from accessing programs labelled with guidance.
Are subtitles available on UKTV Play?
Most shows on UKTV Play offer subtitles. You can activate them using the subtitles button in the video player.
Is UKTV Play free on Now TV?
Though no additional fee is required to access UKTV Play content on Now TV, the initial (and subsequent) subscription fees for ‘Now TV’ will still have to be paid.
Conclusion
UKTV Play is completely free to watch, but in the UK only. The only way to watch UKTV Play in Ireland is with a VPN.
You just need to register with UKTV Play which requires your basic information and a valid UK postal code that you can retrieve easily from the internet.
With a VPN, you not only gain access to new entertainment by getting past geo-blocks, but you also get tougher security and greater privacy. We recommend ExpressVPN.
