Phil Collins, 74, Gives Rare Health Update - Details

From multiple knee surgeries and nerve damage to a long struggle with alcoholism, the musical legened opened up about his health with a frankness rarely seen. Poignant images of him await at the end of the article.

Phil Collins has offered a rare and deeply personal update on his health, revealing the extent of the challenges he has faced in recent years.

In a new interview with BBC Two's Zoe Ball, the 74-year-old musician discussed his ongoing medical issues, including multiple surgeries, complications from alcohol use, and a series of chronic ailments that have left him needing round-the-clock care.

The exclusive interview forms part of "BBC Eras: Phil Collins," a five-part podcast and television special that traces Collins's six-decade career through music, memory, and candid reflection.

The first four episodes, featuring rare BBC archive footage and interviews with those closest to him, were released on January 19, 2026, with the final episode — "In Conversation" with Ball — set to air on January 26, 2026.

Collins, who rose from a West London stage school to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, did not shy away from detailing his health struggles.

"It's an ongoing thing," he told Ball. "I have a 24 hour live-in nurse, to make sure I take my medication as I should do. I've had challenges with my knee — I had everything that could go wrong with me did go wrong with me."

"You know, I mean, I got COVID in hospital, my kidneys started to back up, you know, everything that start, that could all seemed to sort of converge at the same time," he continued.

He went on to reveal that he had undergone five knee operations. "Now I've got a knee that works and I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever," he added.

The problems date back nearly 20 years. In 2007, Collins suffered a spinal injury that led to severe nerve damage and later developed drop foot, a condition that has made walking difficult.

Following surgery on his back, he experienced a further decline in mobility and retired from performing after Genesis concluded their final tour in 2022. Throughout the tour, he performed seated, with his son handling the drums.

Alcohol compounded his issues. "I'd probably been drinking too much, and so my kidneys were messed up, you know," Collins said. "I enjoyed coming off tour. Coming off the road, but I thought, right, I'm gonna do all those things that I couldn't do."

Despite not drinking to excess at night, Collins explained, "I'd drink during the day, but I guess I had too much of it. I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times. But it is just one of those things that happened and it all caught up with me and I spent months in hospital."

He has now celebrated two years of sobriety. In addition to his past injuries and kidney troubles, Collins suffers from type 2 diabetes — yet despite all this, Ball encouraged him to consider returning to the studio.

Though he previously stated he had no plans to record again, he hinted that his creative spark had not entirely gone. "I've got some things that are half formed or were never finished, and a couple of things that were finished, which I like, so you know. Maybe life in the old dog. Yeah. You'll see," he teased.

Ball, a lifelong fan, described the interview as a dream come true. "Phil Collins's music is woven into all our lives, those songs are time machines, full of heart, drama and joy," she shared.

"To dive into his extraordinary story for 'Eras' and sit down with him again for such a special, intimate conversation about music, family and everything in between is an absolute dream," the interviewer added.

The podcast is available on BBC Sounds and promises a deep dive into the highs, lows, and legacy of one of Britain's most successful musicians — a man whose work defined the 1980s and beyond, selling over 100 million albums globally.

As news of his health update spread, tributes and messages poured in across social media. "One of the greatest to ever do it. Terrible what he has to go through 😞," commented one person.

Another typed, "Noooo my absolute favorite artist 💔," while a different netizen said, "Not Phil too." Others offered words of support and concern, with one writing, "So sad for Phil, he is one of the greatests musician out there. Hope he recoger for the issues [sic]."

While Phil Collins's legacy remains intact, his influence undiminished — his story, as this new series makes clear, is one not just of success, but of resilience in the face of extraordinary adversity.