It has been a while since GB media decided to use DNS and Geolocations to stop the rest of the world seeing how degraded they have become.
It is not enough to use VPN for some users.
Here are some ‘BRITISH’ DNS server.
62.6.40.178
62.6.40.162
194.72.9.38
194.72.9.34
194.72.0.98
194.72.0.114
194.74.65.68
194.74.65.6
Make a BBC profile in your network setting and change the existing dns with a pair of the above.
Restart your machine.
You still need a VPN but the good news is you can use any vpn not just those high priced one, who got wise to the dns trick before others.
I paid $27 ten years ago for a lifetime one; they are still available with a search.