In a move that caught fans and industry insiders off guard, the BBC postponed the highly anticipated documentary "Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home" just hours before its scheduled premiere on August 18, 2025. The decision, which left viewers wondering what had prompted such a last-minute change, was later explained as a gesture of respect for the wishes of the Osbourne family, who requested more time before the film’s public release. The BBC, in a statement echoed across outlets including Deadline, BBC News, and Rolling Stone, said, “Our sympathies are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time. 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 set to provide an intimate look at the last three years of Ozzy Osbourne’s life—a period marked by health struggles, a poignant return to his native England, and a final, emotional performance in his hometown of Birmingham. According to BBC News, the film was originally scheduled to air at 21:00 BST on August 18, but was abruptly removed from the lineup earlier that day and replaced by an episode of "Fake Or Fortune?" The BBC’s decision came less than a month after Osbourne’s death on July 22, 2025, at age 76, following a heart attack. The timing of the documentary’s planned broadcast—so soon after his passing and just weeks after a public celebration of his life in Birmingham—likely contributed to the family’s request for a delay.
"Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home" had a long and winding journey to the screen. Announced in 2022 as a 10-part series titled "Home to Roost," the project was initially conceived as a spiritual successor to the Osbournes’ reality TV heyday, chronicling Ozzy and Sharon’s return to the UK after years in Los Angeles. However, as Ozzy’s health began to decline—complicated by Parkinson’s disease and a series of surgeries—the filmmakers reworked the concept into a single, hour-long documentary. The final film, as described by the BBC and Rolling Stone, offers "a moving and inspirational account of the last chapter of Ozzy’s life," featuring unique and intimate access to the entire Osbourne family, including wife Sharon and children Jack, Kelly, and Aimee.
The documentary doesn’t shy away from the emotional realities of Ozzy’s final years. It captures the rock legend’s determination to perform one last time, despite mounting health challenges. The cameras followed him as he prepared for the all-star "Back to the Beginning" concert at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 8, 2025—a show that would become his swan song. Sharing the bill with titans like Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Mastodon, Lamb of God, and Yungblud, Ozzy delivered brief solo and Black Sabbath sets from a throne, cheered on by thousands of fans and his devoted family. Just 17 days later, he passed away, leaving the music world in mourning.
The film’s narrative is shaped by candid moments with the Osbourne family as they come to terms with Ozzy’s declining health and the inevitability of loss. According to Black Promoters Collective, the documentary includes scenes of his adult children accepting their father’s mortality, with daughter Kelly poignantly remarking, “Iron man wasn’t really made of iron,” a nod to Black Sabbath’s iconic anthem. Executive producers Ben Wicks and Colin Barr described the project as “a moving portrait of one of the world’s most entertaining families at a pivotal moment in their history,” emphasizing that, “the strength of Ozzy and Sharon’s love for one another and their kids’ devotion to them is palpable. So too is the family’s acceptance of Ozzy becoming increasingly unwell.”
Despite the delay, the BBC and the filmmakers have reassured fans that "Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home" will eventually air. The broadcaster has yet to confirm a new transmission date, but the film remains a centerpiece in a series of posthumous projects celebrating Osbourne’s legacy. According to Black Promoters Collective and Rolling Stone, a 100-minute documentary titled "Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow"—focusing on his last concert—is slated for theatrical release in early 2026. Additionally, Paramount+ will debut "Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now" later in 2025, a feature-length documentary chronicling the six-year struggle Ozzy faced following a devastating fall in 2019. For fans who prefer the written word, Osbourne’s memoir "Last Rites" is scheduled to hit shelves on October 7, 2025, through Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group.
The BBC’s statement and subsequent reporting from outlets like Los Angeles Times and Deadline have highlighted the delicate balance between public interest and private grief. The Osbourne family’s request to delay the documentary’s release underscores the ongoing process of mourning for a figure who, while beloved by millions, was first and foremost a husband and father. BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, Clare Sillery, expressed hope that the film “brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”
Ozzy’s final months were marked by both public celebration and private sorrow. After his death, thousands of fans gathered in Birmingham for a public tribute, as reported by the Associated Press. The family, including Sharon, Jack, and Kelly, made an emotional appearance before the city’s crowds on the eve of his funeral. The private burial that followed was a quieter affair, a moment for loved ones to say goodbye away from the glare of the spotlight.
The transformation of "Coming Home" from a sprawling docuseries into a focused, hour-long film mirrors the unpredictable, often tumultuous arc of Ozzy’s own life. From the heights of rock stardom to the challenges of illness and aging, the documentary promises to offer not just a chronicle of events, but a heartfelt meditation on family, resilience, and legacy. While fans must wait a little longer to see the finished product, the anticipation only grows for what is sure to be a moving tribute to one of music’s most enduring icons.
As the world continues to honor Ozzy Osbourne’s memory, the postponed documentary stands as both a testament to his impact and a reminder of the enduring bonds of family—waiting, just out of reach, until the time is right to share his story with the world.
