How to watch 'What Happened at Chernobyl' for FREE — stream the doc online from anywhere
Eye-witness testimony and analysis of the world's worst nuclear accident
Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
"What Happened at Chernobyl" is the latest in a series of shows by Jordan Dunbar looking back at devastating man-made events in history such as Auschwitz and Hiroshima that still resonate today. Once more, he is seeking answers...
Here's how to watch "What Happened at Chernobyl" online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE
"What Happened at Chernobyl" is on BBC One on Monday, April 20 at 8.30 p.m. BST. It will also available to stream on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
• WATCH FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.) / YouTube (Global)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN
Not just to what happened at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat in the former USSR on 26 April 1986, but what have we learned from the environmental catastrophe that triggered a public health emergency across Europe? At first glance, not much as the radioactive land is today a strategic factor in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Dunbar interviews eye witnesses to the explosion in Reactor 4 who have never told their story before and two so-called ‘liquidators’ who were charged with the dangerous job of cleaning up the site in the aftermath. The truth, hidden for so many years by Soviet state secrecy, is still being uncovered although the actual human cost will be reckoned for generations.
Read on to find out how to watch "What Happened at Chernobyl" online, on TV and from anywhere and potentially for free.
How to watch "What Happened at Chernobyl" for FREE
"What Happened at Chernobyl" will air on BBC One on Monday, April 20 at 8.30 p.m. BST. It will also available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
For those outside of the UK they can stream the documentary on the BBC World Service YouTube Channel from Monday, April 20 as well (no account required).
Struggling to access the doc? Unblock BBC iPlayer or YouTube with a VPN. We'll show you how to do that below...
How to watch 'What Happened at Chernobyl' abroad
Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), "What Happened at Chernobyl" should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite streaming VPN right now is NordVPN.
NordVPN deal: 3 Months Extra FREE
Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN.
✅ 3 Months Extra FREE!
✅ 74% Off Usual Price
Use Nord to unblock your usual streaming service and watch "What Happened at Chernobyl" online with our exclusive deal.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "What Happened at Chernobyl" online and on-demand.
'What Happened at Chernobyl' - FAQ
'What Happened at Chernobyl' - Contributor
- Jordan Dunbar - BBC journalist
How else will the BBC be marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident?
"The Last Dancefloor in Chernobyl" is a radio documentary, also made by Jordan Dunbar, that will be broadcast on BBC World Service English on Saturday, April 25. It will also be available on BBC Sounds and other podcast platforms.
More from Tom's Guide
- How to watch David Attenborough's 'Secret Garden' online
- 10 greatest movies of the past decade, ranked
- How to watch "The Other Bennett Sister"
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.

Bill Borrows is an award-winning journalist, feature writer and columnist (Times Magazine/ Guardian/ Telegraph/ Daily Mirror/ Mail On Sunday/ Radio Times), former editor-at-large at Loaded magazine, author (The Hurricane: The Turbulent Life and Times of Alex Higgins) and book editor. A frequent contributor on talkSPORT and talkRADIO, his areas of specialisation include sport, history, politics, TV and film. He doesn’t get much free time but does admit to an addiction to true crime podcasts, following Man City home and away, and a weakness for milk chocolate cookies.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

