BBC bosses 'forced' to pull Ozzy Osbourne documentary due to 'family complaints'

A special documentary that is a "moving and inspirational account of the last chapter" of Ozzy Osbourne ’s life was mysteriously rescheduled without explanation.

Titled Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, the programme was due to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this evening at 9pm, and is told through "unique and intimate access to the whole Osbourne family", including wife Sharon, and children Kelly and Jack.

However, the one-off, hour-long documentary, which was announced at the start of this month, has now vanished from BBC TV listings and instead been replaced by Fake or Fortune. It comes after Sharon Osbourne breaks down in tears at Ozzy's funeral in heartbreaking scenes after his death at 76.

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Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy died aged 76 on July 22 from a reported heart attack, just weeks after reuniting with the band on stage as part of The Back To The Beginning farewell concert in Birmingham. Ozzy had been filming his return back to the UK after dreaming of making his comeback for years on end.

His return home was set to be documented in the BBC TV film, however, fans were left disappointed when it was suddenly striped from listings last minute. A spokesperson for the BBC told the Mirror today that the "film has moved in the schedules" and new premiere details will be shared "in due course".

The BBC hasn’t explained why Coming Home was dropped at the last minute, but sources say the family’s reaction to the final cut was a major factor.

A source told The Sun: "There have been conversations behind the scenes that maybe the BBC were rushing their show on Ozzy out - especially because Paramount+ also had a film in the offing.”

Initially, the series was meant to be a ten-part documentary called Home To Roost, chronicling Ozzy and Sharon’s return to the UK. However, after Ozzy’s passing, it was reworked into a one-off film.

"What mattered the most to the family was the overall tone and theme of the programme, which features Ozzy and Sharon in one of their last interviews together," the insider said.

"It started to feel like the goal being pursued was that the BBC and the makers of the film were to get the show on air faster than the Paramount+ doc. Naturally that has caused some concerns with the family," they added.

The programme has been filmed over three years and "captures the extraordinary rollercoaster of their lives" as the Ozzy and Sharon "attempt to complete their long-held dream of moving back to the UK", the BBC said earlier this month when promoting the documentary.

It also captures musician Ozzy as he "heroically battles to get fit enough to perform" and the family dealing with "the dramatic consequences of his ill health", with Kelly quoted as saying in the film: "Iron Man wasn’t really made of iron." The rocker had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.

Clare Sillery, head of commissioning, BBC Documentaries, said on August 7: "We are honoured 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 UK.

"It features family moments, humour, 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 production company 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.

"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."

Last month, fans gathered alongside Ozzy’s family to pay tribute to the star as a funeral cortege travelled through Birmingham.

Sharon and the couple’s children could be seen wiping away tears when they arrived at the Black Sabbath bench, where thousands of tributes, balloons and flowers were left.

Musicians from Bostin Brass played Black Sabbath songs to accompany the cortege, and fans threw flowers at the hearse as it slowly passed through the city.

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