Legendary singer Phil Collins has admitted he never meant to put his children through so much "upheaval" while praising them for remaining "well-balanced". The Oscar-winning star opened up about his life in a chat with Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2 as his guest for the latest Tracks Of My Years show.

The 75-year-old recently revealed his children were called to say their "last goodbyes" to him after he nearly drank himself to death two years ago. He confessed that things could have gone "terribly wrong" back in April 2024 when he lay unconscious in a Swiss hospital, prompting his longstanding manager to summon his five children to his bedside to face some agonising decisions. While he doesn't mention this specific incident during his chat with Vernon, he acknowledged: "Considering what I've put my kids through...without meaning to, of course, but without all the upheavals in their lives, they've grown up to be such incredibly well-balanced, lovely human beings," he reflected.

He continued: "As long as they're happy. I'm happy. And as long as they're doing something that they believe in and love...and they all are, and I couldn't be more pleased for them."

Phil is dad to actress and producer Joely, musician Simon, with his first wife Andrea Bertorelli; Emily In Paris star Lily with second wife Jill Tavelman, and Nicholas and Matthew, who are a drummer and a professional footballer respectively, with third wife Orianne Cevey.

Speaking about his near-death experience, he told The Sunday Times magazine: "Because there were some decisions to be made about 'Do we keep Phil on life support?' kind of thing. My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up. People were coming to say goodbye.

"But I don't remember them coming; I didn't have any idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn't see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong."

Everything health-wise caught up to me at the same time. Whatever could go wrong did go wrong, but everything is fine now."

He also suffers from type 2 diabetes and nerve damage in his hands, and requires crutches to walk following numerous surgeries on his spine and knees. He welcomed 2026 surrounded by his loved ones at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London.

He recalled his daughter, Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins: "She was sitting beside me in tears, saying, 'I never thought I'd get these moments.' We had an incredible time. I can't overemphasise how fantastic it was."

Phil Collins Tracks Of My Years on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from Monday 3rd -Friday 7th August (9.30am - noon), and will see him choose ten songs that have soundtracked his life as he reflects on his career and life.