Ozzy Osbourne performed in front of thousands of adoring metalheads for the final time in his home city of Birmingham just six weeks before his death. Seventeen days later, the Black Sabbath singer and heavy metal pioneer died at his home surrounded by his family, aged 76. His death sparked an outpouring of grief from fans, friends and artists across the world, an indication of his enduring influence, which started with Black Sabbath’s formation in the late 1960s.
A documentary, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, will air on BBC One, which was filmed during the late singer’s last years. According to producer Expectation, the film will be a “moving and inspirational account” of the last chapter of Ozzy’s life. It was filmed over three years and has been told through “unique and intimate access” to the whole family, including Ozzy, wife Sharon, son Jack and daughter Kelly.
The documentary will feature what makers described as the “extraordinary rollercoaster” of the Osbournes’ lives as Sharon and Ozzy tried to realise a long-held dream to move back to the UK. It was originally announced as a series, Home to Roost, in 2022, but the project evolved as Ozzy’s health continued to deteriorate.
The singer will be shown “heroically” battling to get fit enough to perform on stage again, as the family deal with the consequences of his ill-health. There will be “love, laughter and tears”, as well as unforgettable family moments, typical of the Osbournes. It will also show the family accept the reality of their situation, encapsulated by Kelly’s words: “Iron Man wasn’t really made of iron.” Producers said it would serve as a “remarkably candid and uplifting tribute” to one of the world’s “true icons”.
Clare Sillery, BBC head of documentary commissioning, said the team was “honoured” to film the Osbournes during this period of their lives. She said the film showed the “enduring spirit” that made Ozzy a global icon. “We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life,” she added.
Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, executive producers at Expectation, said the film was an “inspiring and poignant” account of Ozzy fulfilling his dream to perform on stage one last time. They said: “Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life. But one thing shone through even more brightly to us and that was Ozzy’s intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all.”
The one-hour film will air on BBC One on Monday at 21:00 BST and will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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