BBC explains decision for last minute cancellation of Ozzy Osbourne ‘Coming Home’ documentary

The BBC has explaned why it pulled the Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home documentary from the broadcaster’s schedule just hours before it was due to air.

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The project was set to share “moving and inspirational” insight into the final chapter of the heavy metal pioneer’s life, and featured contributions from his wife Sharon and his children Jack and Kelly.

The one-off documentary was set to air last night (August 18) on iPlayer at 9pm, but was rescheduled without explanation, per The Mirror, who noted it had vanished from TV listings and had been replaced by an episode of Fake or Fortune.

A spokesperson for the BBC did not clarify the reason it had been pulled, but told the publication that the “film has moved in the schedules” and new premiere details will be shared “in due course”.

Now, though the corporation has explained its reasons for doing so, saying it was in order to respect the wishes of Ozzy Osbourne‘s family.

“Our sympathies are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time,” the broadcaster said via BBC News. “We are respecting the family’s wishes to wait a bit longer before airing this very special film. The new [transmission] date will be confirmed shortly.”

The documentary was filmed across three years, and followed the late Black Sabbath frontman as he and Sharon made the move back to the UK after decades living in the US, and charted his journey to getting fit enough to perform at his mammoth farewell show, ‘Back To The Beginning’, which was his final live show.

That gig took place on July 5 at Villa Park, in Sabbath’s hometown of Birmingham, falling only two weeks before his death, aged 76, and saw Ozzy joined by rock heavyweights including Guns N’ Roses, KoRn, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, Gojira, Anthrax, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.

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.

As well as the BBC documentary, there have also been reports that a biopic based on Ozzy and Sharon’s relationship is still in the works.

Ozzy’s death certificate lists his 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”.

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