It was just 12 weeks ago when legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne performed in front of thousands of adoring metalheads for the final time in his home city of Birmingham.
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.
The BBC’s Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home documentary, filmed during the late singer’s last years, will air at 21:00 BST on BBC One on Thursday after it was initially postponed.
The film was due to be broadcast on 18 August but was postponed the same day.
The BBC said it made the decision after “respecting the family’s wishes to wait a bit longer before airing this very special film”.
What is the documentary about?
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.
What will we see during the film?
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, the BBC said.
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”.
What do the BBC and film-makers say?
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.
Kelly, Ozzy, Sharon and Jack Osbourne, pictured here in 2007, will all appear in the film [PA Media]
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.”
Watch Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home on BBC One from 21:00 BST on Thursday or on the iPlayer.
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