Yes. The free tier includes all Emmerdale episodes with adverts. ITVX Premium removes adverts and adds some extra content, but you don't need it for Emmerdale.

Emmerdale Abroad: How to Keep Watching

Q: The ITVX site loads but episodes won't play: what should I try?

If the page loads but video won't start, ITVX has accepted your IP but is picking up something else. Make sure you're signed in to your ITVX account, that you're in a private window, and that DNS leak protection is on. If it still won't play, try a completely different UK server. Some servers get their IP addresses blocked and switching to another resolves it straight away.

Q: How many devices can watch ITVX at the same time?

ITVX limits the number of simultaneous streams per account, so check ITVX's current terms for the exact number as it can change. Each device watching from abroad needs its own VPN connection pointing to a UK server.

Q: Can I create an ITVX account from outside the UK?

Yes. The sign-up process works from anywhere and doesn't require a UK address or payment details. You'll just need an email address and a password. Once you have an account, connecting via a UK VPN server is what gives you access to the content.

Q: Do I need a TV licence to watch ITVX from abroad?

No. A TV licence is only required if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer in the UK. ITVX's on-demand content doesn't require one, and there's no check when you sign up or stream. If you're living abroad and watching Emmerdale on demand through ITVX, you're fine without one.

Emmerdale episodes go up on ITVX the same evening they air, free with a registered account. ITVX checks your location when you connect, so it's worth making sure your VPN has DNS leak protection switched on. Without it, your real location can slip through even when the VPN looks like it's connected (DNS leak protection stops that from happening).

Why Emmerdale is worth keeping up with abroad

Emmerdale has been running since 1972. It started as a farming drama set in the Yorkshire Dales and has been part of the early evening television routine ever since. For British people who've moved abroad, whether for work, retirement, or family, keeping up with it is one of those small but genuine ways of staying connected to home.

Every episode airs on ITV1 in the UK five nights a week, and goes up on ITVX the same evening. ITVX is geo-restricted to UK IP addresses, so you’ll need a VPN to access it from abroad. In our experience, ITVX is easier to unblock than BBC iPlayer, and a reliable VPN with UK servers is usually all you need.

Emmerdale on ITVX — Emmerdale episodes go up on ITVX the same evening they air, free with a registered account and a UK VPN server.

What you need before you start

A free ITVX account. Sign up with your email address and a password. No UK address, no payment details, and no TV licence required. All Emmerdale episodes are free to watch with adverts.
A VPN with UK servers that work with ITVX. ExpressVPN is our top pick for ITVX: it keeps its UK server IPs refreshed, which means fewer blocked connections. NordVPN is an equally reliable choice. Free VPNs are almost always blocked by ITVX.

How to watch Emmerdale on ITVX from abroad

Connect your VPN to a UK server before opening ITVX. If you load the site first, ITVX may record your real location before the VPN kicks in.
Open ITVX in a private or incognito window. Old cookies can remember where you were last time, even when your IP now looks UK. A private window starts clean.
Sign in to your ITVX account. You need to be logged in before ITVX will play anything.
If it blocks you, switch to a different UK server. ITVX keeps a list of VPN IP addresses and blocks them. A different server in the same country gives you a new IP that usually isn't on that list yet.

Emmerdale's weeknight schedule

Emmerdale broadcasts Monday to Friday on ITV1 during weekday evenings. Episodes go up on ITVX the same evening, and ITV often makes them available on the streaming platform before the live broadcast airs. There's also a back catalogue of recent episodes available on demand, so falling a few nights behind isn't a problem.

Five episodes a week can add up quickly when you're juggling time zones. The on-demand library means you can watch whenever suits you rather than trying to match the UK schedule, which is one of the genuine advantages of watching via ITVX rather than live.

Watching Emmerdale on the ITVX app

ITVX has apps for iPhone, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung and LG smart TVs. On a phone or tablet, your VPN needs to be the full system-level app, not a browser extension. Extensions only cover traffic within the browser itself: the ITVX app uses a separate network connection. Open the VPN first, then the ITVX app.

On smart TVs without a built-in VPN app, the easiest options are installing the VPN on your router (which covers every device on your network automatically) or using your laptop as a wi-fi hotspot with the VPN active and connecting the TV to that.

Frequently asked questions

ITVX says I'm outside the UK even with my VPN on: what do I do?

This is almost always a DNS leak. Even when your IP address shows a UK location, your device can still send location-revealing requests outside the VPN. The fix is to enable DNS leak protection in your VPN settings. In NordVPN, open Settings > Connection. In ExpressVPN, go to Preferences > General. In PureVPN, look in the security or privacy section of the settings. Once it's on, run a DNS leak test online while connected: if your real internet provider no longer shows up in the results, you're sorted. Our guide on fixing DNS leaks has the full walkthrough.

The ITVX site loads but episodes won't play: what should I try?

Is ITVX free?

How many devices can watch ITVX at the same time?

Can I create an ITVX account from outside the UK?

Do I need a TV licence to watch ITVX from abroad?

The Best VPNs for ITVX

If the fixes above didn’t work, the problem is usually the VPN itself. Not all providers are equal at unblocking streaming services. These are the ones we recommend based on our own testing.

The “Try” buttons for NordVPN, ExpressVPN and PureVPN are affiliate links: we earn a commission if you subscribe, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.

NordVPNstarting from £2.29/mo

The most consistent VPN we've tested across BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, and the harder UK services. Reliable, fast, and works on up to ten devices at once.

Try NordVPN Read our review

ExpressVPNstarting from £1.99/mo

The fastest VPN in our tests by a consistent margin, and competitively priced. A strong choice if speed, picture quality, or smart TV streaming matters to you.

Try ExpressVPN Read our review

PureVPNstarting from $2.15/mo
(approx. £1.70)

The most affordable of our three picks. Still unblocks all the major streaming services, and the price makes it a sensible starting point if you're new to VPNs.

Try PureVPN Read our review