How to watch ITV Hub (ITVX) abroad – outside the UK for free

ITVX (previously called ITV Hub) is geographically-restricted. If you try to access it from outside of the UK, content will either fail to play or you’ll see an error message saying:

Oops! It looks as if there’s a problem. Please refresh your page or check out our ITV Hub Help.”

This occurs because the service recognizes that your IP address isn’t from the UK. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to watch ITV Hub from the US, Spain, Ireland, or any other country abroad, it will be blocked. This is frustrating if you’re trying to chill with a boxset or keep up with the latest seasons of Love Island and I’m a Celebrity. The good news is that there’s a simple way to watch ITV Hub abroad — you just need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

By connecting to a VPN server in the UK, you can obtain a British IP address and trick ITVX into allowing you to watch its content. You’ll also be able to access other free UK streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4.

In this article, I’ll explain exactly how to watch ITVX abroad using a VPN, and I’ll list the best VPNs for the job. Sound good? Let’s get started with a brief summary of the most suitable VPNs for ITVX:

Best VPNs to watch ITV Hub abroad:

1. NordVPN The best VPN for streaming ITV Hub overseas. More than 440 high-speed British servers, advanced security and privacy features, and strong unblocking ability. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for ITV Hub.
2. Surfshark My top budget VPN for watching ITV abroad. It has powerful security options, an audited zero-logs policy, and no connection limit.
3. Total VPN Quick and versatile, this zero-logs VPN is ideal for safely streaming ITVX while traveling outside of the UK. Permits up to five connections at once.
4. ProtonVPN Watch ITV from abroad securely with 256-bit encryption and a strict no-logs policy. Has 200+ UK servers suitable for streaming.
5. ExpressVPN Has a strong commitment to security, keeps no logs, and can reliably unblock ITVX abroad. Speedy UK servers available in five locations.
6. IPVanish Fast connection speeds for HD streaming. 150+ UK servers. Works with ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Channel 4. Allows unlimited connections.
7. CyberGhost A fast and versatile service that’s easy to use. Has servers specifically designed for watching ITVX from outside of the UK.
8. PureVPN Hundreds of UK servers for accessing ITV and other platforms. Fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming. Strong on security, with 24/7 support.
9. PrivateVPN Strong unblocking capabilities, very fast speeds, and a wide range of security and privacy protections.

How to watch ITV Hub from anywhere with a VPN

Compared with some of the streaming platforms I regularly use, ITVX is one of the easiest to access using a VPN. Follow the steps below to watch ITV Hub from overseas:

How to watch ITV Hub online from anywhere:

1. Start by creating an ITV Hub account. This service is completely free to use, although you will be asked for a postal code during registration. This isn’t used to find your location — in fact, you can enter any UK postcode.
2. Sign up for one of the VPNs below (I particularly recommend NordVPN).
3. Download and install the VPN app, ensuring you get the correct version for your device.
4. Connect to any of your VPN’s UK servers. The closest to your location is normally the best option.
5. Try playing a video on ITVX. It should begin immediately, but if you’re still having trouble, you can fix most issues by clearing your browser’s cookies and cache and then refreshing the page. For help with more stubborn problems, I’d suggest contacting your VPN’s customer support team.

My criteria for the best ITV Hub VPNs

I regularly hear from users who find it difficult to choose between VPN services. The majority of people simply don’t have the time — or inclination — to try out each competing product. That’s where I come in! I have lots of experience with VPNs and know how to tease out the differences between providers. For this article, my tests evaluated VPN products using the following criteria:

• Streaming ability: I scored each provider’s streaming ability based on how well they performed accessing ITVX (as well as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4) and how many servers they have in the UK.
• Speed: ITVX is based in the UK, so I wanted to know how fast each provider was when I connected to their UK servers. I carried out these speed tests on a home broadband connection to simulate the experience for the average user.
• Security & privacy: I scored providers against more than a dozen relevant criteria. These included the levels of encryption and authentication they use, which VPN protocols they support, and whether they ship with built-in leak protection.
• Ease of use: To calculate how easy VPNs were to use, I scored them on 10 different metrics. These included the user-friendliness of their apps and whether they supported router configuration.
• Value for money: I used several different criteria for assessing whether a provider offered good value for money. The price of subscriptions is important, but so, too, is the number of connections permitted and the availability of discounts.

This is just an overview. You can read more about how I test the VPNs I recommend — and see the results of those tests — in the methodology section below. For now, let’s take a look at the providers that most impressed me.

Best VPNs for streaming ITV Hub abroad: a snapshot of features

I’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – my #1 choice for ITVX.

Best VPNs for watching ITVX abroad: detailed reviews

Here are my detailed reviews of the best VPNs for ITV Hub:

1. NordVPN

Feb 2026 unblocks itvxTested Feb 2026

NordVPN is my top choice for streaming ITVX from abroad. It’s also my top choice for streaming British streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4. Why? For a start, it has hundreds of UK servers to choose from. This spreads demand and helps ensure consistently fast connections throughout the UK. Better still, users can protect up to 10 devices at once, speak with staff using the 24/7 live chat service, and even stream in places with extreme censorship, like China.

To find out just how fast NordVPN’s connections were, I connected to a UK server and measured my download speeds in the morning, at lunchtime, and during the afternoon. I used a 46.55 Mbps connection to more accurately reflect the kind of performance the average users can expect.

The provider was the fastest in the morning. Overall, its average download speed was 42.32 Mbps. This was plenty fast enough for me to stream Love Island without interruption. I also had no problems while gaming and video calling.

NordVPN has a fantastic set of privacy features built-in. These include uncrackable AES encryption, automatic DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection, and a customizable kill switch. There’s also an audited no-logs policy, tracker-blocker, and a custom protocol named NordWhisper that’s designed to beat strict digital censorship.

If you want to stream ITVX while using other apps outside of the VPN tunnel, NordVPN’s split tunneling feature makes this possible. This feature lets you choose which apps you want to use with VPN protection—or vice versa.

NordVPN has three subscription tiers. The cheapest gets you the VPN service and Threat protection. The “Plus” package includes Password management and access to Threat Protection Pro. Updated for the latest release of the app, this feature identifies and neutralizes a broad range of cyber threats — including phishing attempts. It’s great for users who feel particularly vulnerable while online.

The “Ultimate” plan is NordVPN’s premium offering. It comes with a huge 1TB of cloud storage and cyber insurance, including Scam loss and ID theft recovery. The insurance product will reimburse you should you become a victim of a scam or online shopping fraud. Anyone who’s ever been scammed will appreciate the value of this.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. You can also manually install NordVPN on most routers (check the website for instructions).

BEST VPN FOR ITV HUB:NordVPN is my #1 choice. Offers a no-logs policy, customizable security features, and the ability to watch ITV from anywhere, at a very reasonable price. This service even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Read Comparitech’s in-depth review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks itvxTested Feb 2026

Surfshark is my top budget VPN for ITVX. This is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market but still manages to provide around 4,500 servers in 100 countries and unblock stubborn streaming platforms. During testing, I was able to access ITVX, STV Player, and BBC iPlayer without issue.

What’s more, unlike most other providers, Surfshark lets you secure any number of devices simultaneously. If you need any help, customer support is available 24 hours per day over live chat.

So how quick is this VPN? To find out, I connected to Surfshark’s London-based servers using a 46 Mbps connection and performed speed tests in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. Here’s a breakdown of my results:

Like NordVPN, Surfshark’s speeds were excellent — and fastest during the morning round of testing. Overall, the average speed was just 5 Mbps slower than when not connected to a VPN. This is too small a difference even to be noticeable.

Surfshark is a very strong performer where security is concerned too. It keeps you safe using DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and unbreakable encryption, as well as an ad and tracker-blocker. There are a few more advanced features too, such as the ability to rotate your IP address periodically, a stealth mode for sidestepping digital censorship, and an alternative ID generator that lets you sign up for websites without providing your real personal information.

Finally, Surfshark is one of the few VPNs to offer free static IP addresses. These are useful if you’re connecting to a service that gets jumpy when it detects changing IP addresses or if you’re running your own gaming server. Static IP addresses are available in the UK, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, Poland, Brazil, and the US.

Surfshark has its own apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Unusually, it also offers an app for Linux with a full GUI (most are command-line only). Its website provides detailed instructions for installing this VPN on your router.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark has high speeds, no connection limit, several advanced security features, and a no-logs policy, plus it unblocks platforms like ITV Hub abroad. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included.

Read Comparitech’s full Surfshark review.

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3. Total VPN

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Total VPN operates more than 1,800 servers across 80+ countries. It has two locations in the UK: Coventry and London. Both of these worked well for accessing ITVX during testing. This service was also able to unblock BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Up to five devices can be secured at once, and customer support is available 24 hours per day over email.

Now, if your goal is to watch live broadcasts, then you need a VPN that’s up to the task. With this in mind, I tested Total VPN’s British servers at three times of day (morning, midday, and afternoon). This approach lets me measure not just its top speeds but also its consistency. Here’s how quick Total VPN was when testing on a standard 50 Mbps broadband connection:

This service managed to achieve an average speed of 36.3 Mbps. While I did see a few quicker providers, this is still extremely competitive and well above what’s needed for everyday usage. For example, I was able to play fast-paced online games and make video calls without the slightest interruption.

This provider does a great job of keeping your online activities private. It uses 256-bit AES encryption (which is currently considered uncrackable), paired with IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection, and a no-logging policy. Total VPN also offers a kill switch on every platform except Windows, which means you’ll never accidentally browse unprotected following an unexpected outage. While there aren’t a ton of advanced features, this VPN does support split tunneling and has a Hydra protocol for even greater anonymity.

Total VPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. It currently doesn’t support Linux devices or routers.

PERFECT FOR UK TV:Total VPN has no issues unblocking platforms like ITVX outside of the UK. Also delivers a high level of privacy and beginner-friendly apps for all major platforms. Get a 14-day money-back guarantee on short-term plans or sign up for a year or more to get a 30-day guarantee.

Take a look at Comparitech’s complete Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

Unblocks ITVXTested Feb 2026

ProtonVPN is known for its larger network, offering access to 15,000+ secure servers in more than 120 countries. I’ve found it to work flawlessly with ITVX, Hulu, Netflix UK, and BBC iPlayer. Users can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and speak with customer support, day or night, using ProtonVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

I didn’t experience any buffering while connected, but I carried out speed tests anyway. Using a home broadband connection with an average speed of 46.55 Mbps, I connected to a ProtonVPN server in the UK and measured my speed several times. The provider performed admirably with an average speed of 35 Mbps, more than fast enough for streaming ITVX content in HD.

ProtonVPN’s apps may look a little complicated but you’ll get to grips with everything quite quickly. Uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection are all enabled by default but I’d also suggest activating the ad and tracker-blocking feature (called NetShield) for a better streaming experience. You may also want to set up split tunneling or port forwarding. This VPN doesn’t keep any logs, which is to be expected from the company behind many activists’ favorite email client, Proton Mail.

ProtonVPN offers apps for iOS, Android, Linux, MacOS, and Windows. Additionally, it provides manual setup instructions for most routers in its website’s support section.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN caters to tech-savvy users who torrent, host servers, or need advanced privacy features. With servers available in 120+ countries, it’s ideal for bypassing restrictions to watch ITVX and other UK TV services abroad. 24/7 live chat support in the member’s area. 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.

Find out more in Comparitech’s full ProtonVPN review.

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5. ExpressVPN

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ExpressVPN is known within the industry for its privacy and security innovations. It has had multiple audits of its apps and infrastructure, and only uses servers that cannot store user-generated data. Each server’s software stack is reinstalled on every reboot, ensuring consistency across the network.

I’m telling you all this to explain why ExpressVPN is fairly expensive compared with its rivals. It’s unabashedly a premium service that invests a lot in behind-the-scenes tech. Essentially, it does the worrying, so you don’t have to. Plus, in order to address their higher-than-average pricing, they’ve recently brought in a tiered pricing structure: Basic, Advanced, and Pro.

The first thing new users will notice is the app’s clean and simple interface. Pressing the big power button connects straight to the best available server for your location. If all you want is to protect your connection, then it’s job done. This makes Express a great VPN for beginners. To find specific locations, open the VPN Locations tab. The provider has servers in five UK locations, four of which are London-based.

I tried servers in each UK location and could access ITVX every time. I was particularly impressed with how fast a secure connection was established — there’s normally a slight delay when I’ve used other providers.

I also tried ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 — it worked great with both. Users who subscribe to international streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ can use ExpressVPN to access content libraries in different countries.

Speed-wise, ExpressVPN typically outperforms most of the competition. In my own tests, it performed solidly throughout the day — though the fastest speeds were in the morning. Overall, it averaged 35.79 Mbps, which is fairly close to my download speed when not connected to a VPN (46.55 Mbps). In practice, this means that users with a decent home broadband speed will have no problem streaming HD content from ITVX.

ExpressVPN has a proven no-logs policy, its own lightweight connection protocol, a built-in kill switch, and app-based split tunneling. I tested the service for IP, WebRTC, and DNS leaks and found none. It’s also capable of blocking ads, trackers, shady sites, and adult content thanks to the newly-added Advanced Protection tab in the settings menu. It also obfuscates your traffic automatically as needed, meaning you can rely on it even in high-censorship countries like China or the UAE.

This VPN has its own Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux apps. It also has custom firmware for routers, making it nice and simple to protect every device on your home network. If the price is a little too high, you may want to consider ExpressVPN’s new free VPN service, EventVPN.

WATCH ITV ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN is ideal for ITV Hub abroad. It’s fast, security-conscious, and capable of unblocking numerous popular streaming services. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at Comparitech’s full ExpressVPN review.

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6. IPVanish

Unblocks ITVXTested Feb 2026

IPVanish is an industry veteran that’s just kept improving its service since it first launched a decade ago. This provider now has 3,200 self-owned servers in over 100 countries and does a great job of unblocking stubborn streaming platforms (I had no issues streaming ITVX, STV Player, Channel 4, and BBC iPlayer).

Better still, it can protect all of your devices at the same time and provides 24/7 assistance over live chat. In my experience, staff are friendly, helpful, and quick to respond.

IPVanish is also very fast. In the years that I’ve spent testing VPNs, IPVanish has consistently ranked as one of the fastest VPN providers. Still, since I’m specifically looking at UK performance, I decided to perform another set of tests while connected to a server in London. Here are the results:

IPVanish’s speeds were highest at midday, though with an average speed of 36.5 Mbps, it’s fast enough to watch your favorite ITVX shows at any time. There was only 7 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results, making it one of the most consistent options on the market.

This provider has an exceptionally strong security offering. For starters, it prevents ISP snooping using uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption. This is strengthened using a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a true no-logs policy (which has been independently audited). IPVanish also boasts a few more advanced features, such as the ability to obfuscated OpenVPN traffic, block ads and trackers, or check whether a link is safe to open. There’s even a free SOCKS5 proxy which lets you spoof your IP address as well as split tunneling support.

IPVanish has apps for iOS, MacOS, Android, and Windows systems. You can follow manual setup instructions to get this VPN running on Linux devices and routers. There’s also a new Advanced subscription tier that includes the VPN, secure online file storage, and a cloud-based browser.

GREAT FOR UK STREAMING:IPVanish provides consistent and buffer-free access to ITVX and other British streaming platforms. Lets you connect every device you own and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read Comparitech’s full IPVanish review.

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7. CyberGhost

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CyberGhost is a simple yet versatile VPN designed for novice users who primarily want a VPN for streaming, torrenting, or gaming. It has dedicated servers for these activities, which are easily accessible from the well-designed dashboard.

Up to seven devices can be protected simultaneously and in the unlikely event of any problems, you can get help via CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat system.

This is the only provider in my list that has servers specifically optimized for watching ITVX abroad. I couldn’t resist testing this server out, so I connected to it and tried accessing ITVX content. It worked perfectly well, so (out of curiosity) I tried using the same server to watch BBC iPlayer and Channel 4. Both worked fine, meaning it isn’t always necessary to stick to CyberGhost’s suggested server. This makes life a little easier if you tend to switch between streaming platforms.

CyberGhost has a vast server network, making it one of the best VPNs for international travel, though it doesn’t publish exact server counts anymore.

To determine what kind of performance users should expect from it, I conducted a series of speed tests while connected to one of CyberGhost’s UK servers. Let’s take a look at those results:

This is normally one of the fastest providers around but it could’ve done better here.  Overall, it achieved an average download speed of 35 Mbps, which is almost 10 Mbps less than the average download speed of 46.55 Mbps when not connected to the VPN. It’s a bit of a drop, but still fast enough to stream HD and 4K content. It’s worth noting that switching the MTU size in the app to “Small” or “Auto” can give you a speed boost if needed.

You’ll be pleased to hear that CyberGhost takes your security seriously. It shields your activities using unbreakable encryption, WebRTC, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, an independently-audited zero-logs policy, and a kill switch that stops sending traffic the moment you lose connection to the VPN. When you’re not streaming ITVX, CyberGhost’s automatic Wi-Fi protection will keep your connection safe when using Wi-Fi hotspots found in cafes or hotels. The software also has an ad, tracker, and malware blocker.

Apps are available for Windows, Android, macOS, Linux, and iOS. Router configurations are possible on routers that support OpenVPN. It’s not too difficult to set up, so you can watch ITVX on a smart TV.

BEST FOR BEGINNERS:CyberGhost makes it easy to watch ITV in other countries. Boasts a high number of British servers, the ability to unblock ITVX abroad, and customizable security features. Annual plans come with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Check out Comparitech’s complete CyberGhost review.

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8. PureVPN

Unblocks ITVXTested Feb 2026

PureVPN has one of the largest networks around, with over 6,000 servers spread across 65+ countries. During my time with it, I was able to consistently access ITVX, BBC iPlayer and Channel 4, as well as the UK versions of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. This makes it a perfect choice for any UK expats who want to stay up-to-date with British TV shows. You can connect up to 10 devices at the same time and speak with customer support staff directly using PureVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

Although I didn’t experience any buffering while connected, I wanted to find out what sort of speeds users should expect from PureVPN. To do this, I connected to a UK server over a home broadband connection (which had an average speed of 46.55 Mbps when not connected to a VPN).

Across my three tests, PureVPN achieved an average speed of 34.82 Mbps. This is fast enough to stream HD content from ITVX and other platforms comfortably. Netflix, for example, recommends a connection of at least 15 Mbps for watching 4K video.

When it comes to privacy, this service has everything you’d ever need. For instance, there’s uncrackable AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. PureVPN also has a no-logs policy, meaning it can’t reveal what you get up to under any circumstances. There’s app-based split tunneling support too, as well as a tracker-blocker. This last feature used to only be available to Plus and Max customers but is now included as standard on the Standard plan.

PureVPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Alternatively, you can follow manual setup instructions to get this VPN running on your router.

FAST AND CHEAP:PureVPN makes it easy to watch ITVX abroad, at work, on campus, or on any other restricted network. Works with BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and Netflix UK. International servers network in 65+ countries works to access most streaming services. Easy to use on all devices. Strong security. 31-day money-back guarantee to test it yourself.

Find out more in Comparitech’s full PureVPN review.

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9. PrivateVPN

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PrivateVPN is a smaller provider that’s bucking industry trends in the name of anonymity. It operates roughly 200 servers throughout 60+ countries and acts as its own ISP, which greatly reduces the number of people who have access to your traffic. It’s great for streaming too, and worked flawlessly with Netflix, ITVX, and Disney+ during testing.

10 devices can be secured at the same time and if you have problems, customer support is available nearly (but not quite) 24/7 over live chat.

In terms of speed, PrivateVPN was generally very fast — particularly during my morning and afternoon testing. It averaged 36.5 Mbps overall, which was 9 Mbps slower than my average speed when not connected to a VPN. It gave us more than enough speed to stream ITVX content in HD.

PrivateVPN keeps you safe online using 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. I carried out my own IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak tests to ensure my true location was hidden when connected. PrivateVPN passed all three tests.

This service follows a strict no-logs policy too, so there’s no need to worry about your activities being revealed at a later date. If you’re trying to access ITVX from a country where VPN use is restricted, PrivateVPN has a Stealth VPN feature that will obfuscate your traffic. It’s effective enough to work in China, which has the toughest filtering I know of.

Apps are available for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. PrivateVPN also works with Linux distros and routers that support OpenVPN. Instructions for configuring a router connection are available on the PrivateVPN website. Connecting via a router will enable you to watch ITVX on your smart TV or games console.

FLAWLESS STREAMING:PrivateVPN provides excellent accessing ability allowing you to easily watch ITV Hub outside the UK. It offers excellent security and privacy protections including a zero-logs policy. This VPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at Comparitech’s complete PrivateVPN review.

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Watch ITV Hub with a free VPN

I strongly advise against using a free VPN for several reasons. First and foremost, they generally provide very slow speeds since they often have fewer servers yet more users than paid VPNs. This makes browsing frustrating and streaming near-impossible. Additionally, popular streaming platforms tend to block free VPNs first, so even if you manage to get a fast enough connection, you might still not be able to watch ITVX abroad.

There’s not even any guarantee your free VPN is safe. In fact, an analysis of 280+ free VPN apps found that almost 40% contained malware. Perhaps worst of all, 18% never used any encryption whatsoever, meaning they were effectively no safer than browsing without a VPN. You aren’t necessarily any safer with a well-known service, as I’ve seen Hola sell idle user bandwidth to help run a botnet.

Using a VPN with a user-first logging policy and a history of standing up for customer privacy is the best way to stay safe online.

What to watch on ITV Hub

ITVX lets you stream both live broadcasts and thousands of hours of premium on-demand content. You’ll be able to watch all kinds of shows covering everything from sports to news to prestige drama. Below, I’ve listed some of ITVX’s most high-profile shows just in case you’re not sure what to watch.

• English Football League 
• Downton Abbey
• Emmerdale
• Coronation Street
• Big Brother
• The Only Way is Essex
• Deal or No Deal
• The Chase
• Loose Women
• Halt and Catch Fire
• Jane the Virgin
• All Elite Wrestling

ITVX VPN FAQs