The BBC pulled a scheduled Ozzy Osbourne documentary from their schedule just a day before it was set to debut on Monday (Aug. 18). The documentary, titled Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, was essentially a chronicle of Ozzy’s final years as he and his family moved from the U.S. back to their native England.
What Did the BBC Say About the Ozzy Documentary Rescheduling?
A reason for the last minute scratch of the documentary was not given. However, a spokesperson for the BBC commented to US Weekly, ““The film has moved in the schedules and we’ll confirm new [transmission] details in due course.”
The shift in scheduling comes just weeks after Ozzy’s death at the age of 76 on July 22.
What Was Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home Initially About?
The idea of an Osbournes-centered project came about in 2022 when discussions surfaced that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were considering leaving Los Angeles and returning to their native U.K. At first, the couple complained about the state of taxes in Los Angeles.
Ozzy told The Mirror. “We are leaving L.A. We are a bit sad. But the tax is getting too much. I am sad because I really really like staying and living there. If they do the taxes better then I may come back. I do not know.”
Not long after, Ozzy bemoaned the issue of gun violence in America. He shared with The Guardian,“I’m fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert [in 2017]. … It’s fucking crazy.”
The singer added, “I don’t want to die in America; I don’t want to be buried in fucking [Hollywood cemetery] Forest Lawn. I’m English — I want to be back. But, saying that, if my wife said we’ve got to go and live in Timbuktu, I’ll go. But no, it’s just time for me to come home.”
As a return to the U.K. became more of a reality, the BBC pitched the idea of a series to the Osbournes about their pending move. Initially conceived as a 10-part series dubbed Home to Roost, the idea centered around the move along with periphery family activity such as Ozzy’s promotion of the Patient No. 9 album and Jack and Kelly’s travails with fatherhood and pregnancy.
But, as Ozzy’s health became an issue, the idea eventually shifted to a documentary instead of a series.
How Did The BBC Describe the Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home Documentary?
According to The BBC, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home is described as “the moving and inspirational account of the last chapter of Ozzy’s life, told through unique and intimate access to the whole Osbourne family, including Sharon, Jack and Kelly.”
They note that it was “filmed over three years” and “captures the extraordinary rollercoaster of their lives as Sharon and Ozzy attempt to complete their long-held dream of moving back to the U.K. Ozzy heroically battles to get fit enough to perform and the family deal with the dramatic consequences of his ill-health.”
They add, “The film is full of love, laughter and tears and the kind of unforgettable family moments that we’ve come to expect from the Osbournes. It’s a remarkably candid and uplifting tribute to one of the world’s true icons and documents the first family of rock as they are forced to accept that, as Kelly says in the film, ‘Iron man wasn’t really made of iron.'”
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Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, stated, “We are honored to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the U.K. It features family moments, humor, reflection and shows 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.”
Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, Executive Producers at Expectation, add, “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 U.K. and appear onstage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream. 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.”
Osbourne died on July 22 of a heart attack. He was 76.
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Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita