How to watch BBC thriller The Serpent online anywhere in the world

The Serpent
(Image credit: BBC/© Mammoth Screen/iStock)

The Serpent is the new BBC crime drama everyone is talking about...

The Serpent on BBC1 promises to be one of the highlights of the Christmas TV schedule this year, bringing to life a remarkable serial killer story. Here's how to watch The Serpent online anywhere in the world.

The new crime thriller, which is inspired by real-life events, will see TV favourite Jenna Coleman leading the cast alongside renowned French actor Tahar Rahim.

The Serpent tells the astonishing true story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer (nicknamed The Serpent) who targeted Western travellers during the 70s and became one of Interpol’s most wanted men.

The Serpent

The new BBC thriller is based on true events (Picture: BBC/© Mammoth Screen) (Image credit: BBC/© Mammoth Screen)

Psychopath, con man, thief and master of disguise, Charles Sobhraj was the chief suspect in the unsolved murders of up to 20 young Western travellers on the 'hippie trail' across India, Thailand and Nepal between 1975 and 1976.

One of the most elusive criminals of the 20th century, Charles Sobhraj repeatedly slipped from the grasp of authorities worldwide and by 1976 he had arrest warrants on three different continents.

When Herman Knippenberg, a junior diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok, unwittingly walked into Sobhraj’s intricate web of crime, he set off an extraordinary chain of events that saw Knippenberg seek to bring Sobhraj to justice for his terrible crimes.

How to watch The Serpent online in the UK for free

The Serpent is an eight part series and will start on BBC1 at 9pm on New Year's Day.

You can watch online via BBC iPlayer and the series will also be available in the same place if you want to catch up on each episode at a later date.

More: New Year TV Guide - best shows to watch and when they're on

How to watch The Serpent online from abroad 

The Serpent

The Serpent is set to have viewers on the edge of their seats (Picture: BBC/© Mammoth Screen) (Image credit: BBC/¬© Mammoth Screen)

There is a handy way to watch your favourite TV shows from wherever you are in the world, and it is called VPN.

This lets you get around the usual digital barriers by changing your IP address, meaning you can watch your favourite TV shows even if you’re away from home.

But which VPN will suit your needs best?

One of the top options currently on the market is NordVPN, which lets you change your IP address on whichever device you want to watch your favourite TV show on.

From laptops to a Smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick and games consoles to a mobile phone, you can change the address to make your device think it is in a different location.

Not only is NordVPN straightforward and easy to use, it also has great security smarts and is reasonably priced. Plus, you can try it 100% risk-free by taking advantage of its 30-day free trial.

How to watch The Serpent in the US  

The Serpent is currently unavailable to watch in America at the moment.

How to watch The Serpent in Australia 

Sadly, here are also no plans to show the The Serpent in Australia at the moment.

The Serpent starts on BBC1 at 9pm on New Year's Day - see our TV Guide for more festive dramas not to be missed. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.