Phil Collins says it's been a 'difficult, frustrating few years'
Musician opens up to presenter Zoe Ball about his health, sobriety and extraordinary career for the BBC Eras podcast
www.the-independent.comHere are the latest updates on Phil Collins:
- Health updates: In January 2026, Collins shared that he has a 24-hour live-in nurse to manage medications and that he’s had multiple knee surgeries, with one functioning properly enough to allow walking with assistance. He also marked two years of sobriety, describing the past years as difficult but manageable.[1][7]
- Hospitalizations and care: Reports in January 2026 confirm he spent time in hospital recovering from knee surgery, and his team has at times addressed false hospice rumors by clarifying he is not in hospice care.[3][1]
- Mobility and music plans: He indicated ongoing mobility challenges and suggested uncertainty about returning to live performances, noting his last concert was in 2022 and expressing a desire to regain health, though future performances remain uncertain.[5][7]
- Media coverage: Coverage across outlets in early 2026 highlights his health journey, with interviews discussing the impact of his spinal injury, nerve damage, and related surgeries on his ability to play drums, and how sobriety and recovery have factored into his life.[1][5]
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- If you’d like, I can compile a concise timeline of major health events and public statements from 2025–2026, plus a brief note on how they have affected his touring or recording activity.
Would you like me to create a short, sourced timeline or pull quotes from the most recent interviews?
Citations:
- The Independent article on his health, surgeries, sobriety, and nurse support.[1]
- CNN coverage of his health update, including the 24-hour nurse and mobility goals.[7]
- TMZ and other outlets addressing hospice rumors and hospitalization updates.[3]