Phil Collins separates from wife

Phil Collins and his wife Orianne. Picture / Reuters

British singer Phil Collins and his wife of six years, Orianne, have decided to separate.

Collins will continue to live in Switzerland to be near to his two young children, Nicholas and Mathew, his publicist Mara Buxbaum said.

"They have decided in the interests of their two children that it is better to separate," Buxbaum said. "They are both very sad that it should come to this."

Buxbaum said the couple have lived separately since the beginning of the year. This was the third marriage for the rock star, who has three other children from his previous marriages.