Sir Rod Stewart came close to cancelling his Glastonbury performance.

The 80-year-old star is set to play the Legends slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, but Rod admits that he came perilously close to cancelling his performance after being struck down with illness.

The Maggie May hitmaker - who is married to model Penny Lancaster - told The Sun newspaper: "I've had to cancel five shows because of this b****** flu.

"This time last week I was thinking of cancelling. It was a close shave. I have had Influenza A. It's been so terrible.

"But my dear wife Penny and some good medical people got me through it. There was a lot of technical massaging from some very good people I know, which sounds filthy doesn't it? You've got no idea.

"But my dear wife, she said to me 'You are going to do this. It's mind over matter.' She nursed me back to health. She really is a great girl."

Rod is now looking forward to his Glastonbury performance after overcoming his illness.

He said: "I am really looking forward to it now. I feel honored and privileged, considering four days ago I wasn't going to make it."

Rod has teased details of his performance, including his musical guests.

The singer - who is one of the best-selling artists of all time - quipped: "Mick Hucknall and I are going to come up and sing She Was Only A Pilot's Daughter But She Kept Her Cockpit Clean.

"Only joking. We are going to sing If You Don't Know Me By Now. And then Lulu is coming on.

"She is going to sing Hot Legs and then Ronnie Wood is coming on with me and Lulu to do Stay With Me."

Rod also revealed that their rehearsals have been going really well.

The chart-topping star - who was knighted for services to music and charity back in 2016 - shared: "All three of my guests are in excellent form and are playing well. We had the best rehearsal yesterday."