What will the centerpiece of the TV special Phil Collins: Eras – In Conversation, scheduled to air on BBC Two and iPlayer on 31 January 2026, iconic musician Phil Collins sat for a candid world-exclusive interview with Zoe Ball, In celebration of his 75th birthday. The piece will serve as the finale to the five-part podcast series, that airs on BBC Sounds at 6am on Monday January 26, with a subsequent broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in the early hours of Sunday 1 February.
Personal Struggles and Recovery
In the remarkably open interview, the legendary drummer addresses the “convergence” of health issues – including kidney failure, multiple knee operations, and a battle with alcohol – that have effected him in recent years.
“I had everything that could go wrong with me,” admits Collins who revealed he now requires a 24-hour live-in nurse. About his period of heavy drinking after retiring from the road, Phil said: “It all caught up with me and I spent months in hospital. But I wouldn’t have missed any of it for the world.”
Future Music on the Horizon?
Despite his physical setbacks, the UK native teased the possibility of a return to the studio, revealing “half-formed” ideas and unreleased tracks he remains fond of, adding “The things that are ahead for me… is go in there and have a fiddle about and see if there’s more music.” “Maybe life in the old dog. You’ll see.”
A Career in the Spotlight
Recalling how a “security blanket” of drums made his eventual transition to frontman psychologically difficult—to his global solo superstardom, the BBC documentary follows Collins’ journey as a young drummer auditioning for Genesis. He also reflects on the pride of touring with his son, Nic Collins, who took over drumming duties for the band’s final tours.
Providing a definitive look at the man who helped define the sound of British pop and rock for throughout six decades, the Eras series also features contributions from Robert Plant, Sir Bob Geldof, and Sir Richard Branson,
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Phil Collins – Public Domain