Eras

BBC Radio 2
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The stories of the biggest artists in the world. We delve deep into the BBC archive and speak to the people who were there, as we look back on their most iconic eras.

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  1. Phil Collins: Episode 1: In the Beginning…

    EPISODE 1

    Phil Collins: Episode 1: In the Beginning…

    Who’s that cherubic lad, beaming out from the cover of a 9 penny knitting pattern? Meet young Philip Collins – a boy born with two distinct paths laid out before him. Follow his dad into the world of office work and suburban domesticity? Or listen to that voice that tells him to climb onto stage, any stage, and perform? In episode one of Eras: Phil Collins – Zoe follows Phil as he receives his first toy drum, age three, and discovers a lifelong obsession. One that will ultimately lead him to his destiny, as he stumbles into an audition with a little-known prog rock group called Genesis. A Cup and Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds Series Producer: Frank Palmer

    29 min
  2. Phil Collins: Episode 2: Can You Feel It?

    EPISODE 2

    Phil Collins: Episode 2: Can You Feel It?

    It’s the dawn of the 1980s, and Phil’s life has been thrown into turmoil by the breakdown of his marriage – but amidst the heartbreak, he finds a new drive to create. Zoe Ball follows Phil Collins as he steps away from Genesis and makes his first, unforgettable statement as a solo artist. The album – and a certain drum fill in its opening track – propel Phil to the status of Britain’s most unassuming popstar. With it comes his first taste of both the highs and lows of so much exposure. Opportunities to work with his heroes, Eric Clapton and Robert Plant, come knocking – but then so do the bad reviews… Will the madness get to Mr. Everyman’s head? A Cup and Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds Series Producer: Frank Palmer

    29 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Phil Collins: Episode 3: The Imperial Years

    In 1985, after a couple of massive singles and an Oscar nomination, Phil Collins stands on the precipice of global megastardom. Then comes No Jacket Required, Live Aid, a red hot hit streak with Genesis – and he’s hurled over the edge. From time zone defying Concorde operatics to soundtracking – and starring in – Miami Vice, Zoe Ball charts Phil’s imperial era. The critics might be giving him a hard time, but in stadiums all over the world legions of fans sing every word to his constantly expanding stable of mega hits. But as the demands on his time and attention multiply… it’s only a matter of time before there’s a personal cost to so much success. A Cup and Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds Series Producer: Frank Palmer

    29 min
  4. Phil Collins: Episode 4: Against All Odds

    EPISODE 4

    Phil Collins: Episode 4: Against All Odds

    In the 1990s, Phil Collins’ status as rock and roll’s resident nice guy is thrown into question after the collapse of his second marriage, the leak of a certain fax, and a subsequent tabloid frenzy. Bruised by the experience, Phil begins a gradual retreat from the industry – moving to Switzerland, then quitting Genesis, and ultimately announcing his own ‘Final Farewell Tour’ in 2004. But retirement is easier said than done. Zoe Ball follows Phil Collins through an epic and emotional final act, as struggles with ill health leave him unable to play the drums. But all the while that he’s away, Phil’s music is finding its way to a new generation, and soon the cries for one final farewell get too loud to ignore… A Cup and Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds Series Producer: Frank Palmer

    29 min
  5. Phil Collins: Episode 5: The Man Himself

    EPISODE 5

    Phil Collins: Episode 5: The Man Himself

    In the final part of Eras: Phil Collins, Zoe Ball sits down with the man himself for a new and exclusive conversation, encompassing everything from Phil’s earliest aspirations as a kid with a drum set to his poignant reflections at the other end of an incredible career. Featuring special appearances from Robert Plant, Mike Rutherford and Phil’s son, Nic Collins, it’s an emotional grand finale – with Phil reflecting on the private price he paid for so much success, and the health struggles that have left him unable to play the drums in recent years. But while he might not be able to sit behind the kit anymore, that doesn’t mean we’ve heard the last from Phil Collins… A Cup and Nuzzle Production for BBC Sounds Series Producer: Frank Palmer

    29 min
See All Season 7 (5)

About

The stories of the biggest artists in the world. We delve deep into the BBC archive and speak to the people who were there, as we look back on their most iconic eras.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 2
  • Episodes
    35
  • Seasons
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Eras
  • Provider

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