Zoe Ball hosts a new award-winning podcast series

20 January 2026 - Press release

BBC Eras: Phil Collins for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds

 

Zoe Ball is the host of a new series of the award-winning podcast Eras for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, focussing on the life and legendary career of Phil Collins, who turns 75 on 30^th January. From West London stage school to global superstardom, we will hear from Phil in each chapter throughout the five-part series. 

The Eras: Phil Collins podcast series (episodes 1-4) is launched today and is available on BBC Sounds and globally on DSPs. Across the series, new interviews with contributors including Sir Bob Geldof, Craig David, Izzy Lamberti, Sir Richard Branson, Robert Plant, Steve Hackett and Phil’s son Nic Collins offer insights into Phil’s remarkable career and lasting influence, alongside archive contributions from Alicia Keys and Julie Walters. These episodes will also be broadcast on Radio 2 on Sunday 25^th January (00:00–2:00am).

Zoe, who last interviewed Phil on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 2020 when Phil, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks announced a new Genesis tour, says: “Phil Collins’ music is woven into all our lives, those songs are time machines, full of heart, drama and joy. I’ve been a lifelong fan ever since discovering Genesis as a young teenager, and their Wembley gig in ’87 is still one of the best nights of my life. I’ve been lucky enough to chat with Phil a few times over the years, but 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. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”  

In the fifth and final episode, Zoe sits down with Phil Collins for a world-exclusive new interview, reflecting on his iconic career through its era-defining chapters spanning six decades. The visualised episode launches on Monday 26th January on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer at 6am. It will also broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday 1st February (00:00-00:30am).   

The photo of Zoe Ball with Phil Collins is available to download here. 

Together they explore Phil’s lifelong love of drums, his early career, his audition for Genesis and journey with the band, his hugely successful solo career, and some of his most loved songs, including In the Air Tonight. Phil also talks candidly about touring with his son Nic, the personal and professional challenges he has faced, and his plans on the future.

In a new interview, Sir Bob Geldof talked about how Phil broke all the rules of popstardom: “I remember when the Rats started, I was down at Gary's house who lived down the road from me, and I said, listen, if we're serious about this we got to behave differently. And he said, like, what’dya you mean? I said, well, you know, the guy next door comes along today and asks you, can he borrow a bowl of sugar, he is run out. You give it to him. I said, but tomorrow, man, he comes around you tell him to f*** off. He’d go, why? And I said, I don't know why, but that's just it, you know?”

“So, um, that was the sort of situation. But Phil was never that, you know, he was, he loved the music business. He loved everything about it, you know, and all, you know is that Phil Collins, his character type, his lack of style type, his lack of side or guile would've disappeared had it not been for the huge talent, the songwriting, the voice, the playing, the sound. That's a hell of a package to squeeze into a tank top.”

Episode 4 features an interview with Garon Michael, who auditioned for - and ultimately became - the actor behind the iconic gorilla in the Cadbury advert set to Phil Collins’ hit “In the Air Tonight,” following his role in the big-budget adventure film Congo. Garon reflects on the audition process in Los Angeles, reveals how he underwent five and a half months of intensive training, and explains how remaining in character as a gorilla throughout the production made the experience incredibly intense. Garon reveals that he learnt how to play the drums after a month of intense training, before flying to London to shoot the commercial. 

Phil Collins reflects on watching Michael Jackson at Wembley, in the company of the royal couple, Prince Charles and Princess Diana in July of 1988 and being asked by Prince Charles to organise music for the Prince of Wales’ fortieth birthday.

The series is produced by Matt Everitt for Cup and Nuzzle.