The BBC has addressed why a highly anticpated documentary billed as a “moving and inspirational account of the last chapter” of Ozzy Osbourne’s life was abruptly pulled from schedules, just hours before it was due to air.
Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home had been set for broadcast on BBC One at 9pm on Monday (and on iPlayer), offering “unique and intimate access” to the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, his wife Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack.
But in a last-minute shake-up, the one-off, hour-long programme disappeared from TV listings, replaced instead by an episode of Fake or Fortune?.
Now, the broadcaster has said that it did so in order to respect his “family’s wishes” and that they intend to reschedule it for a later date.
A BBC spokesperson said in a statement: “Our sympathies are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time. We are respecting the family’s wishes to wait a bit longer before airing this very special film.
“The new TX (transmission) date will be confirmed shortly.”
It comes less than a month after Osbourne’s death on July 22 aged 76, reportedly from a heart attack. The rock star’s passing came just weeks after a triumphant return to the stage in Birmingham for The Back To The Beginning farewell concert, where he reunited with fellow Black Sabbath members.
The documentary, filmed over three years, promised to capture the Osbournes’ “extraordinary rollercoaster” as the family pursued their dream of moving back to Britain after more than two decades in the US. It follows Ozzy’s determination to get fit enough to perform one last time, despite battling Parkinson’s disease since 2019 and the “dramatic consequences of his ill health.”
Kelly Osbourne is heard in the film reflecting on her father’s decline with the poignant line: “Iron Man wasn’t really made of iron.”
BBC documentary chief Clare Sillery described the project earlier this month as an “intimate glimpse” into the family’s journey, blending “humour, reflection and family moments” with the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon.
She said: “We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”
Producers Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, of Expectation, added: “It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream.”
The documentary began life as a planned BBC series, Home To Roost, announced in 2022 and intended to chart the couple’s relocation from Los Angeles to rural Buckinghamshire. But as Osbourne’s health deteriorated, the concept was scaled back to a single, hour-long film.
The rocker’s funeral in Birmingham last month drew fans from across the world. Thousands lined the streets as a cortege travelled through his hometown, with mourners leaving flowers, balloons and tributes at the Black Sabbath bench. Sharon and the couple’s children were seen in tears as they joined the crowds to say a final farewell.
The BBC is expected to reveal new broadcast details for Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home in the coming weeks.
