How to Watch Annika Anywhere
David
David has been watching TV outside of his home country for over 12 years. In addition to his streaming expertise, he has a wealth of experience in watching sports and documentaries, having spent many years following these genres. He is an avid fan of The Detectorists and Blue Planet, and also has a keen interest in English football.
There is something about Scottish-based crime drama that people come back to again and again. From Rebus to Shetland, Scotland seems to be the ideal setting to bring these shows to life in a similar way that Scandinavia has in recent years too.
It proves to be the case once again with Annika, a show which manages to bring together all the best elements of Scottish-based crime drama with that Scandi-Noir edge that people love.
Set in Glasgow, it follows a detective who has recently joined the new maritime homicide unit investigating murders linked to the seas and waterways around the city.
There is the obligatory personal element to the show as well, as the lead character battles with her own issues as a struggling single mum alongside her workload.
It makes for a powerful and hugely popular series and one that fans of crime shows and thrillers won’t want to miss. Speaking as a fan myself, I can say with some confidence that this show is up there with the very best.
But unfortunately, if you are outside the UK, you won’t be able to watch Annika where you are yet. Unless that is, you use the neat trick that we are going to explain in this guide.
What channel is Annika on?
Annika is originally broadcast in the UK on the cable channel Alibi. But, just recently, it has arrived on the BBC as well and is currently being streamed live and on-demand on the BBC iPlayer streaming service.
If, like me, you have ever tried to watch the BBC iPlayer while abroad, you will know that the service uses geo-blocking to prevent people outside the UK from tuning in.
But there is a way to avoid these geographic restrictions and watch Annika on the BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world. And if you want to know how, I’ll tell you how in the next section.
How do I watch Annika where I am?
To watch Annika on the BBC iPlayer streaming service from wherever you are in the world a VPN app.
A VPN is primarily an online security and privacy tool that is recommended by most online security experts to keep you and your personal data safe online.
It works by encrypting your internet traffic and redirecting it via an external server. This process masks your real location from the websites and online services you use and instead makes it think you are located wherever the VPN server is.
VPN servers can be located anywhere in the world, which means when you connect, you can make it appear as if you are in a different country.
In this way, by connecting to a UK-based VPN server, you can pretend you are in the UK even when you aren’t and so watch Annika and unlock BBC iPlayer from anywhere.
It sounds too good to be true, I know, but trust me, I have been using this technique for years, and it has never let me down yet.
Where to get a VPN?
There are lots of VPNs out there, but not all of them work with the BBC iPlayer, which does try to block VPN users.
It’s, therefore, important to choose the right VPN. I have tested them all with iPlayer, and the one to go for is ExpressVPN.
It has a lot of UK-based servers, all of which can unblock the BBC iPlayer streaming service.
It also offers fast and reliable connection speeds which means no buffering or laggy playback and a wide range of apps that work on almost all streaming devices allowing you to watch how and where you want.
There is even a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have lots of time to try before you commit.
If you want to try a different VPN, NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN are also up to the job. They both offer the same core features and come with long money-back guarantees.
But, having tested them all, I can say with some confidence that the best VPN for the job is ExpressVPN.
30-day money back guarantee
How to stream Annika outside the UK
To stream Annika from anywhere in the world on BBC iPlayer using ExpressVPN, all you need to do is follow this simple step-by-step guide:
Step 1
Go to the ExpressVPN website and sign up for their annual deal. This comes with a 49% discount and an extra three months free and offers exceptional value for money.
Step 2
Download and install the ExpressVPN app from either your device’s app store or their official website for security reasons.
Step 3
Log in to the ExpressVPN app using the new account details you were given in Step 1.
Step 4
In the app, click the Selected Location option, choose a server located in the United Kingdom, and click the Connect button to establish a connection.
Use ExpressVPN to enjoy Annika show in any country.
Step 5
Open the BBC iPlayer website or app and log in to your account. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up easily and for free.
After that, confirm any requirements and look up Annika in their content library. Now site back and enjoy this exceptional crime drama series.
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What is Annika all about?
The premise of Annika
Annika follows Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, a Glasgow-based copper of Norwegian ancestry, who has just been assigned to the newly formed maritime homicide unit.
She investigates a different water-based case each week with all the intrigue and drama that crime investigations usually offer. Alongside this, there is the running plot of her problems with her daughter and the challenges of being a single parent and working full-time.
A nice twist in this series is that Annika regularly breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to viewers, which is a neat way of getting to know her innermost thoughts and problems in more detail.
The main characters and their roles in the show
The main character is Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, a newly assigned senior Detective working with a new team and juggling the challenges of being a single Mum.
In her team at the new Maritime Homicide Unit, there is DS Michael McAndrews, who is slightly bitter at losing out on the top job to Annika, DC Blair Ferguson, a young tech analyst, and also DS Tyrone Clarke. The big boss is DCI Diane Oban.
We also meet Annika’s troubled teenage daughter, Morgan and her child psychiatrist, Jake Strathearn as well.
Critical reception of Annika
On the whole, critics have been raving about Annika.
In the Guardian, Stuart Jeffries said of the show, “the dialogue is so droll and the performances so charming I’m in for what fisherfolk call the long haul.”
In particular, he praises leading actor Nicola Walker saying, “Walker’s droll dialogue and womansplaining should keep you waterside for the long haul.”
Who stars in Annika?
Nicola Walker – Annika Strandhed
Nicola Walker has become a firm fixture on our TV screens in the UK thanks to her leading roles in a whole host of TV favourites including, Spooks, Unforgotten, Marriage, and Last Tango in Halifax.
She has also had roles in The Split, Collateral, Heading Out, Inside Men, The Turn of the Screw, Touching Evil, Jonathan Creek, and Pie in the Sky.
Jamie Sives – DS Michael McAndrews
Jamie Sives has roles in movies as diverse as Wild Rose, Moon Dogs, Rearview, and Clash of the Titans on his CV.
He has also had numerous TV roles including, Chernobyl, The Victim, Frontier, Game of Thrones, Rockface, and To The Ends Of The Earth.
Katie Leung – DC Blair Ferguson
Katie Leung is best known for her role as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movie franchise. She has also had leading roles as Caitlyn in the animated series Arcane and Ash in the sci-fi series The Peripheral.
Leung has also made appearances in Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Run, One Child, The Foreigner, Strangers, and The Chemistry of Death and will be appearing in the upcoming BBC series Nightsleeper.
Ukweli Roach – DS Tyrone Clarke
Ukweli Roach is an actor and dancer best known for playing the role of Jay in StreetDance 3D.
He also played FBI psychiatrist Robert Borden, on the American television series Blindspot, and his other roles include Wolf, The Midwitch Cuckoos, Humans, and Hard Sun.
Paul McGann – Jake Strathearn
You will either know Paul McGann for his seminal role alongside Richard E. Grant in Withnail and I or as the eighth Doctor Who in the 1996 TV film.
He has also had roles in Hornblower, The Monocled Mutineer, Lesbian Vampire Killers, Holby City, The Bletchley Circle, Luther, and Tripping Over.
Summary
Annika is a refreshing crime drama with elements of Scandi-noir and all the plus points of a classic Scottish crime caper. In Nicola Walker, it has a terrific lead actor surrounded by an excellent ensemble cast.
There really is nothing not to like and this is definitely a show you won’t want to miss. Sadly, it is geo-blocked outside the UK, but my personal expertise has found a way around that. All you need is a VPN.
ExpressVPN is the one to go for to unblock Annika on BBC iPlayer around the world.
All you need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, connect to a UK-based server, and then log into BBC iPlayer as usual.
You will then find Annika in the content library, ready to be enjoyed live or on-demand as you wish. I’ve seen some of this show, and it’s a belter. It’s well worth going through this quick process to enjoy this excellent show.
✔ Beginner-friendly
✔ Quick to set up
✔ Money back guarantee
30-day money back guarantee
