They do serve ads to users outside the UK. I opened the article in a fresh instance of Chromium and counted 13 ads in the article - some very intrusive and others mixed in with the related articles (although with an "ADVERTISEMENT" label).

I’m afraid they do. Never been outside the UK and tried to access the BBC?

It doesn't do adverts inside the UK. Outside the UK they do. I always get a bit confused when I access it via the work VPN and see adverts!