You're scrolling at 11 p.That's why the guy who rode motorcycles across continents with Ewan McGregor. Which means trains. Container ships. , half-watching something forgettable, when you remember: Charley Boorman. Consider this: a camel, probably. You want to watch By Any Means — the series where he ditches planes entirely and tries to reach Sydney from Ireland using anything but air travel. The one who made travel look like controlled chaos. That said, trucks. m.You just want to hit play Practical, not theoretical..
So where is it?
That's the question that brought you here. And the answer is messier than it should be Small thing, real impact..
What Is By Any Means
By Any Means aired in 2008. Seven episodes. Charley Boorman, solo this time — no Ewan, no camera crew the size of a small army — attempting to travel from his home in County Wicklow, Ireland, all the way to Sydney, Australia, without once stepping foot on an airplane. The rule was simple: if it flies, you don't take it. Everything else is fair game.
He crosses Europe by train and ferry. Worth adding: hitches rides on cargo ships across the Mediterranean. Now, navigates the Middle East through Syria, Jordan, and Iran — back when that route was difficult but still possible. Pushes through Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia. Eventually boards a container ship from Singapore to Darwin. Then drives down the Stuart Highway Which is the point..
It's not Long Way Round. It's rawer. Less polished. The production is smaller. On the flip side, the stakes feel more personal. Charley gets sick. He gets stuck. But he argues with border guards. He misses connections and sleeps in ports waiting for a ship that might not come. You watch him figure it out in real time. That's the appeal Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
The Vibe Is Different From His Other Shows
If Long Way Round and Long Way Down are epic buddy road movies with satellite phones and support vehicles, By Any Means is a solo backpacker's journal that happened to get filmed. Plus, charley carries his own gear. He negotiates his own passage. There's no backup plan. When the freight ship from Iran to Mumbai gets delayed by two weeks, he just... waits. In a port. That's why in the heat. With dwindling budget and no guarantee the next ship will take passengers.
That friction — the waiting, the uncertainty, the sheer physical grind — is what makes it stick. You're not watching a celebrity travel. You're watching someone travel Most people skip this — try not to..
Why It Matters (And Why You Can't Find It Easily)
Here's the thing: By Any Means never got the streaming-era treatment. No Blu-ray. DVDs exist — Region 2, long out of print, fetching £40+ on eBay if the disc isn't scratched. It aired on BBC Two, then BBC HD, then maybe repeated on Dave or Travel Channel. No official digital release on iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon Video in most territories.
It's stuck in that awkward pre-streaming limbo. But old enough to be forgotten by licensing departments. That said, not old enough to be public domain. Popular enough that fans still ask about it weekly on Reddit and TripAdvisor forums. But not popular enough for a platform to justify the rights clearance.
Charley himself has mentioned it in interviews. Still, unmonetized. Music clearance alone — the show uses a lot of licensed tracks — would be a nightmare. The BBC owns others. So it sits. The production company (Touch Productions) folded years ago. Unstreamed. Even so, he owns some rights. Loved by the few who saw it live or ripped the DVDs.
That's why you're here. Legally, ideally. You want to watch it. But the legal path is barely a path at all And that's really what it comes down to..
How to Watch By Any Means Online (Right Now)
Let's be practical. As of early 2025, here's what actually works.
1. BBC iPlayer — Sometimes, If You're Lucky
The BBC occasionally puts By Any Means on iPlayer as part of "Charley Boorman collections" or travel-themed drops. It's not permanent. If you're in the UK with a TV licence, check iPlayer search. It appears for a few months, then vanishes. Type "Charley Boorman" not just the show title — sometimes it's filed under his name.
If you're outside the UK, you'll need a VPN with a UK endpoint and a valid TV licence declaration. But it's unreliable. That's the only fully legal streaming route. Don't plan a weekend binge around it And it works..
2. DVD Rips — The Grey Zone
At its core, how most people watch it now. Someone bought the Region 2 DVD box set years ago, ripped it, uploaded it. You'll find it on private trackers, Usenet, certain streaming-adjacent sites that operate in legal grey water. Quality varies. Some rips are DVD-perfect. Others are compressed to 480p with hardcoded Danish subtitles.
I'm not linking anything. Use a VPN. That's why don't download executable files. Use an ad blocker. You know how to search. Because of that, terms like "By Any Means Charley Boorman complete series" or "Charley Boorman By Any Means DVD rip" will surface results. Standard precautions.
3. YouTube — Fragments Only
Full episodes? Rarely stay up long. Plus, bBC's Content ID catches them fast. But you will find clips. The border crossing into Iran. The container ship cabin tour. The moment he realizes the ferry from Greece to Egypt doesn't run in winter. Sometimes a kind soul uploads an episode split into six "parts" with slightly cropped aspect ratios to evade detection. And they last weeks, sometimes months. Watch fast if you find them Turns out it matters..
4. Archive.org — Worth a Check
Occasionally, someone uploads the full series to Internet Archive under "educational use" or "travel documentary preservation.Search "By Any Means Charley Boorman" on archive." It gets DMCA'd eventually. But sometimes it survives months. Sort by date. org. If it's there, stream it before it disappears Worth keeping that in mind. That's the whole idea..
5. Physical Media — Still the Only Guarantee
If you want to own it, hunt the DVD. eBay UK. Amazon Marketplace sellers. So world of Books. Practically speaking, musicMagpie. Day to day, ceX. The 3-disc set (BBCDVD2722) pops up for £15–£35 depending on condition. But check "Region 2" and "PAL" — your player or drive must support it. Also, most modern laptops with external DVD drives handle PAL fine. VLC plays it without region hassle.
Rip it yourself. Keep the files. That's the only way to ensure you can rewatch in five years.
Common Mistakes People Make Trying to Find It
Searching Only "By Any Means"
Too generic. On top of that, you'll get the 2023 Liam Neeson thriller, the legal drama, the podcast, a dozen unrelated things. Always add "Charley Boorman" or "BBC" or "2008 travel documentary Not complicated — just consistent..
Assuming It's on Netflix/Prime/Disney+/Apple TV+
It's not. Because of that, it never has been. Charley's Long Way Up is on Apple TV+. Long Way Round and Long Way Down have rotated through Netflix and Prime in various regions. By Any Means? Consider this: never. Different production company. Different rights. Don't waste time checking That alone is useful..
6. Streaming Platforms with Regional Availability
In some cases, regional streaming services may host the series temporarily. Platforms like ITV+ (UK), C More (Nordic countries), or local broadcasters in Asia or the Middle East have sporadically licensed BBC content. Here's one way to look at it: C More has aired By Any Means in Scandinavia. Check your local streaming directory or use a geo-unblocking service to access these regions. Still, availability is fleeting—often tied to licensing renewals or promotional campaigns Not complicated — just consistent..
7. Forums and Community Shares
Niche travel or documentary-focused forums (e.g., r/TravelDocumentaries on Reddit, specialized Telegram groups) occasionally host user-uploaded links or partial episodes. These communities often share preservation efforts, such as re-uploading content removed from major platforms. Be cautious: moderators may enforce rules against piracy, so verify the legitimacy of links. Engaging with these communities can also yield tips on archival copies or physical media sources.
8. The Ethics of Access
While the desire to rewatch By Any Means is understandable, accessing it through unofficial channels raises ethical questions. The series’ creators and broadcasters rely on licensing revenue to fund future projects. Whenever possible, support official releases—whether through physical media purchases or legitimate streaming rentals. If you’ve already downloaded a copy, consider purchasing the DVD to offset the impact on rights holders.
Conclusion
By Any Means remains a testament to the challenges of preserving niche documentary content in the digital age. While its absence from mainstream platforms is frustrating, the global community of fans has kept its legacy alive through rips, clips, and archival efforts. For now, the DVD remains the most reliable—and ethically sound—way to own the series. As streaming services evolve, who knows? Perhaps a future licensing deal will bring it back to the spotlight. Until then, the adventure continues… in the files we keep, the clips we share, and the stories we retell. Safe travels The details matter here. No workaround needed..
