BBC iplayer (as well as ITV and the other UK TV catch-up services) are pretty good at catching you out and stopping you using their services abroad, even using many VPNs or Proxy Servers......but not all ;-)
From www.makeuseof.com , this article tells you the best ones to use and the ways around missing out on your favourite TV shows abroad......in my case, the Football League show......but not this week, I can't bear to watch it :-(