Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Anywhere: The Complete Guide
How to Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live From Anywhere in the World
If you're looking to access BBC Radio 5 Live – the BBC's free breaking news and sport station – from outside the UK, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). NordVPN is the best choice for unblocking 5 Live via BBC Sounds and listening normally, although international restrictions on BBC Sounds will come into effect in July 2025.
Why Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live?
Radio 5 Live offers British radio discussions and covers the latest breaking news and sport, as well as interviews and phone-ins. The station launched in March 1994 and now boasts 5.5 million weekly listeners, while its sister station, 5 Sports Extra, which focuses on sport, has 1.4 million listeners and recently increased its share by 68% thanks to its cricket commentary on Test Match Special.
BBC Radio 5 Live Daily Shows
Its daytime schedule includes news segments, interviews, discussions, and phone-ins, starting from 5 Live Breakfast with Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, to Nicky Campbell's phone-ins, and 5 Live Drive with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton, keeping listeners informed with the latest news. In the evenings and at weekends, sport dominates with 5 Live Sport.
Most Popular BBC Radio 5 Live Podcasts
There are also highly-rated podcasts broadcast on 5 Live, including comedians Elis James and John Robins, the You About? show with close friends singer and presenter Tom Grennan and Roman Kemp, and The Wayne Rooney Show.
But how can you access BBC Radio 5 Live, and is it also available in the US, Australia, and Canada? Read on as our quick guide explains how to listen to the UK's breaking news and sport station from anywhere in the world.
How to Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live
To access 5 Live's premium content, you have a range of different options. Medium wave radio (tuned to 909 or 693) or digital radio are, of course, possible options, but if you don't have one, the BBC Sounds website, BBC Sounds app (iOS/Android), and the BBC Radio 5 Live website are also available.
To listen, you'll need a BBC account.
And if you miss your favorite show, don't worry. You can listen again via BBC Sounds, with the majority of programs available as podcasts, either in full or, like the Test Match Special podcast, a shortened version. Some shows, such as the aforementioned Elis and John and You About?, are podcasts first that are later broadcast on 5 Live.
Remember, however, that on July 21, 2025, international access to BBC Sounds will be closed for listeners residing outside the UK, and they will be directed to different commercial services or the new audio section on BBC.com and the BBC app. Although the decision was met with surprise, there are still ways to access the platform if you are abroad. Read on to find out how.
