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How to Watch the Dr Who New Years Special 2020

The New Year special of Doctor Who is always one of the highlights of the holidays. If you're a fan of the British SciFi comedy, you can stream Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer from anywhere.

With a VPN, you can pretend to live in the UK. This will let you watch Dr. Who live or via catch up. Not every VPN works to unblock iPlayer, but there are some that do. In this guide, we will explain which VPNs are suitable and what you need to do to stream Doctor Who this Xmas.

What are the best VPNs for Dr. Who?

Below you can take a quick look at our expertly chosen VPNs for streaming the Doctor Who New Year's special. If you want more details about each service, scroll down for in-depth summaries that will help you pick.

  1. ExpressVPN - The best VPN for streaming the Dr Who New Year Special. It's lightning-fast, has great apps for all platforms, and unblocks everything.
  2. TIP

    In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

  3. CyberGhost VPN - A low cost VPN that makes it easy to unblock Dr Who. It has easy to use apps for all platforms and it works with iPlayer.
  4. Private Internet Access - A great VPN for for unblocking Dr Who. It has advanced VPN security features, it's great for torrenting, and has cheap plans.
  5. Surfshark - The cheapest VPN for Streaming Dr Who online. It has fast for streaming in 63 countries, and it's loved by users.
  6. VyprVPN - A great all round VPN. It unblocks iPlayer and Netflix, has superb apps, and S=servers around the world.

For a VPN for iPlayer to reliably unblock Doctor Who it must have two important features:

  • It must have UK VPN servers that work with BBC iPlayer. Auntie Beeb goes out of her way to block VPNs, so you need to stick to VPN companies that work.
  • You must pick a fast VPN to let you stream in HD without buffering.

How to watch Dr Who Christmas special online

Using a VPN to watch The Doctor Who new year's special this holiday season is easy – as long as you pick one of the VPNs from this guide. Our recommendations have UK servers that work with BBC iPlayer. That means you can easily follow the steps below to watch Dr. Who.

  1. Subscribe to one of the best streaming VPNs. We've picked the cream of the crop for this list, so you won't need a sonic screwdriver to watch this year's Christmas special online.
  2. Download and install the VPN app, launch it, and log in using your credentials.
  3. Choose a VPN server in the UK and connect. This will spoof your location and provide services as if you lived there.
  4. Head over to BBC iPlayerand make an account. You will need to pretend to live in the UK by providing a valid UK postcode (don't worry, a quick search should pull you up plenty).

Using a VPN to access iPlayer is extremely easy and thousands of people worldwide already do it. It only requires a VPN that works, so be sure to stick to our recommendations to avoid disappointment. That way, you will be watching the Doctor Who Xmas special in no time!

The best VPNs to stream Dr Who – Summaries

Picking a VPN is always hard because there are dozens of services on the market. We take a closer look at the best services for unblocking the Dr Who New Year's special below.

1. ExpressVPN
Editor's Choice | October 2024

ExpressVPN is a great VPN for unblocking the New Year Special. It offers super-fast servers in the UK that work perfectly with iPlayer, ITV Hub, and Channel 4. Has a 30-day money back guarantee.

  • Pricing

    • 12 months + 3 months FREE + Backblaze backup: $6.67/mth
      49% OFF
    • 6 months: $9.99/mth
    • 1 month: $12.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

ExpressVPN is a fast and reliable VPN provider based in the British Virgin Islands. It is a service that has apps for all platforms, and it allows users to install and use the VPN on up to five devices simultaneously. That means that you and the family can use it to unblock Dr Who – or any other seasonal TV specials – on any of your devices!


ExpressVPN has 24/7 live chat, which allows you to ask questions and get help at any time of day. And, it is one of the few services that is known to work with iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and just about any other international services you can think of. Plus this VPN is lightning-fast, which means it will always let you stream in HD without buffering. An excellent all-rounder that is ideal for streaming content this Christmas. Test it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

CyberGhost is an easy to use VPN making it easy for users to unblock Dr Who. It has fast servers and easy to use apps on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 3 months FREE: $2.11/mth
      83% OFF
    • 6 months: $6.99/mth
      42% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.99/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

CyberGhost VPN is a Romanian provider that is known to unblock BBC iPlayer and numerous international Netflix catalogs. This makes it perfect for streaming Xmas movies, the Doctor Who Christmas special, and any other content that takes your fancy. With a CyberGhost VPN subscription, you can install and use the VPN on up to 7 devices. This means you can use it for streaming foreign TV channels both at home and on public WiFi. It also means that come Christmas day, you and the kids can unblock completely different things if you want to.


CyberGhost has apps for all platforms and it is extremely easy to use, making it a superb option for beginners. Plus, you can test it yourself to make sure it works thanks to its 45-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access is a great service for anyone looking to unblock Dr Wo. It's well-loved by the privacy community – offering plenty of customization for advanced users.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.19/mth
      82% OFF
    • 6 months: $7.5/mth
      38% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

Private Internet Access is a provider that has more than 20,000 servers in over 76 countries. This includes servers in the UK for streaming Dr Who on iPlayer – or the Great Christmas Bake Off on Channel 4. In fact, PIA has a superb choice of servers that are known to unblock a wide variety of international services – including Netflix. That means you can use the VPN throughout the holiday season to unblock Christmas specials and movies showing on US TV, UK TV, or even Australian TV channels.


The other great thing about this VPN is that it is excellent for torrenting thanks to its port forwarding feature. So if you want to stream and download Christmas content, this VPN is well worth considering. Plus, you can compare it to our other recommendations by using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Just bear in mind that this service is slightly more techie, so if you're a beginner and you don't want to worry about its extra settings stick to one of the two services above. 

Surfshark is a great service for unblocking content like the Dr Who New Year special. It gives users a super-cheap VPN that is amazing at unblocking streams like Dr Who.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 3 months FREE: $2.19/mth
      86% OFF
    • 12 months + 3 months FREE: $2.79/mth
      82% OFF
    • 1 month: $15.45/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

Surfshark is a VPN that provides exceptional value-for-money. The service has apps for all platforms and it is known to unblock a wide selection of Netflix catalogs, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Prime Video, YouTube, and much more. This makes it great for streaming TV shows like Dr Who on British TV (or more movies on Netflix or any other service you have a subscription to).


We love that Surfshark lets its users install and use the VPN on an unlimited number of oof devices. This means you can use the VPN at home, on public WiFi, or to unblock different shows – on different channels –all at the same time. That makes Surfshark a super versatile VPN for streaming Christmas specials! Well worth trialing using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Fast and reliable. 

5. VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a great all-round VPN for unblocking Dr Who on iPlayer. It is a fully-audited and trustworthy VPN from Switzerland that does everything right.

  • Pricing

    • 12 months: $5/mth
      50% OFF
    • 1 month: $10/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu

VyprVPN is an excellent no-logs VPN based in Switzerland that implements strong OpenVPN encryption, a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and an obfuscation/stealth feature (called Chameleon). This makes it great for gaining online privacy both at home and on public WiFi. In addition to these privacy advantages, the VPN has servers in over 70 countries that work to unblock Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and anything else you may want to watch this Christmas.


Admittedly, this VPN isn't quite as fast as some of our other recommendations. But it does work to unblock Dr. Who, and it has a money-back guarantee, which means you can compare it to our other recommendations if you want to. A great all-rounder. 

Doctor Who Festive Special – What to expect

Dr. Who is a long-running British SciFi comedy that has gained millions of fans worldwide. In recent years, the show was also picked up by Netflix, which helped to spread it to an even wider audience.

The show centers around the Doctor and their Tardis – a time machine that looks like an ordinary British telephone booth. The Doctor (also known as Dr. Who) is an ancient being known as a Time Lord, who travels the galaxy and dimensions saving the day and battling a series of arch-nemeses.

The Doctor has seen many variations over the years and is currently portrayed by Jodie Whittaker. During her adventures, the Doctor inevitably makes friends with other characters that she brings along in her Tardis in the fight to save humanity and various other sentient life forms from around the known universe.

At the end of season 12, the show brought to light facts about the doctor's many lives. Information relating to the Timeless Children started to bring about very serious questions about her identity and her history. This storyline and its relationship to the Revolution of the Daleks is expected to carry on both in the Xmas special and Season 13.

The events at the end of season 12 were highly controversial, with many questions now surrounding where the doctor came from and who she really is. Those twists are bound to add all the more intrigue to the show, making the Christmas special a must watch!

What else can I watch on the BBC this Christmas?

In addition to streaming Doctor Who, you can use your VPN to stream a large number of other British shows this Christmas.

UK TV channels are known to broadcast many outstanding Christmas specials, and this year is no different. Below we have included a list of the best shows to watch using a VPN:

In addition, don't forget that you can use your VPN to stream shows on ITV Hub and Channel 4. Giving you ample opportunity to stream a wide range of British TV Christmas specials this holiday season. Including the Great Christmas Bake Off.

As always, there's also tons of content on Netflix. Check out our what to watch on Netflix this December article for a list of the best TV shows and movies.

Conclusion

So, if you want to watch all of the best shows this Christmas, you're going to need a VPN. Here's a quick reminder of the best of the best:

  1. ExpressVPN - The best VPN for streaming the Dr Who New Year Special. It's lightning-fast, has great apps for all platforms, and unblocks everything.
  2. TIP

    In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

  3. CyberGhost VPN - A low cost VPN that makes it easy to unblock Dr Who. It has easy to use apps for all platforms and it works with iPlayer.
  4. Private Internet Access - A great VPN for for unblocking Dr Who. It has advanced VPN security features, it's great for torrenting, and has cheap plans.
  5. Surfshark - The cheapest VPN for Streaming Dr Who online. It has fast for streaming in 63 countries, and it's loved by users.
  6. VyprVPN - A great all round VPN. It unblocks iPlayer and Netflix, has superb apps, and S=servers around the world.

Written by: Ray Walsh

Digital privacy expert with 5 years experience testing and reviewing VPNs. He's been quoted in The Express, The Times, The Washington Post, The Register, CNET & many more. 

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