Not sure if anyone else is experiencing this problem but streaming and downloads using iplayer has been very very slow since Saturday. Of course this had made get_iplayer slow as well.
I have a fast connection through BT and I rang them and of course they said it was a problem with the BBC.

On the BBCiplayer web site they posted this:
"We’re currently investigating why some users experience slow download speeds on their computer, using the BBC iPlayer Downloads application - even when they appear to have a good internet connection.

Once we find out more, we’ll update this FAQ."

All of a sudden it is fixed and all is back to the way it was on Saturday.

Another Saturday another slowwwwwwwwwwwwww day.
Hope the bbc fixes itself agin soon.