A new documentary about Ozzy Osbourne is on the way, and set to share an “intimate glimpse” at the metal icon’s “last chapter”.
Titled Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, the project is set to share a moving and inspirational insight into the final chapter of the musician’s life, and features contributions from his wife Sharon and his children Jack and Kelly.
The documentary was filmed across three years, and follows the late Black Sabbath frontman as he and Sharon made the move back to the UK after decades living in the US.
It shows the heavy metal pioneer as he strived to settle down in England again, and also follows him as he worked to get fit enough to perform at his mammoth farewell show, ‘Back To The Beginning’.
That gig took place on July 5 at Villa Park, in Sabbath’s hometown of Birmingham. With a star-studded line-up boasting names like Guns N’ Roses, KoRn, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Anthrax, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, the gig would go on to become the highest-grossing charity concert of all time, bringing in a huge sum for good causes. It also marked Ozzy’s final performances as a solo act and with Black Sabbath, and took place just over two weeks before his death, aged 76.
The forthcoming film is produced by Expectation in association with JOKS Productions Limited for BBC One and iPlayer. It was originally planned to be a series titled Home To Roost, and teased back in 2022, but later turned into a one-hour film due to Ozzy’s deteriorating health.
According to a new press description, the documentary is “full of love, laughter and tears”, and arrives as a “candid and uplifting tribute to one of the world’s true icons”.
“We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family,” said Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning. “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 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 Osbourne: Coming Home will air exclusively on BBC One and iPlayer on August 18 at 9pm.
Osbourne was laid to rest in the grounds of his UK mansion during a private ceremony that was attended by Elton John, members of Metallica and more. His cortege had previously travelled through his home city of Birmingham in a procession attended by thousands of fans.
Countless names have come forward to pay tribute to Ozzy, including Zak Starkey, Adam Sandler, Ghost’s Tobias Forge, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Yungblud, Billie Joe Armstrong, Jack White, Coldplay, Gojira and Jake E Lee. Touching messages have also been shared by his Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler.
Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins also shared that performing with Ozzy at his final show was like “a magical dream”, and added that it didn’t seem like he was “anywhere near the end of his life”.
Since his death, there has been a push from fans for both Birmingham Airport and a stage at Download Festival to be renamed after the late singer. A Change.org petition for the former got over 5,000 signees in less than two days, and currently stands at over 64,000 signatures.
To celebrate the life of the singer, King Charles’ army band also paid their respects by covering Black Sabbath’s classic track ‘Paranoid’, and his family have allowed an exhibition in Birmingham dedicated to the late Prince of Darkness to be extended.
As well as the upcoming BBC documentary, there are also reports that a biopic based on Ozzy and Sharon’s relationship is still in the works.
Ozzy’s death certificate lists the cause of death as a heart attack, while also mentioning that he was suffering from coronary heart disease and Parkinson’s. It also listed his occupation as “Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend”.
