Just hours before it was set to premiere, the highly anticipated BBC documentary Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home was abruptly pulled from the network’s schedule. The move came at the explicit request of the Osbourne family, who, less than a month after Ozzy Osbourne’s death, asked for the film’s airing to be delayed. The BBC publicly confirmed the family’s wishes on August 19, 2025, expressing sympathy and promising to announce a new broadcast date soon. For fans who had been gearing up for a rare, intimate look at the legendary Black Sabbath frontman’s final years, the sudden change was as unexpected as it was poignant.
According to BBC News, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home was originally scheduled for broadcast on BBC One at 9 p.m. on August 18, 2025. Instead, viewers found an episode of Fake or Fortune? in its place, with the network initially offering little explanation. By the following day, the BBC clarified: "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 [broadcast] date will be confirmed shortly." That statement was echoed across outlets, including Press Association and Radio Times.
The documentary’s postponement follows a period of mourning for the Osbourne family and fans worldwide. Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic voice of Black Sabbath and a solo artist beloved for his music and irrepressible personality, died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76. The cause was reported as a heart attack, according to Press Association. His death came just over two weeks after his final public appearance: a much-celebrated reunion with Black Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning farewell concert in Birmingham on July 5. That event, now recognized as a historic closing chapter for the Prince of Darkness, drew thousands of fans and was marked by emotional tributes, flowers, and music echoing through the city streets as his funeral cortege passed by.
The story behind Coming Home is as winding as Ozzy’s own journey. Initially announced in 2022 as a 10-part series titled Home to Roost, the project was set to chronicle Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s return to the UK after more than two decades in the United States. The family’s dream of settling in rural Buckinghamshire was to be the centerpiece, with plenty of Osbourne-style humor and candid moments along the way. But as Ozzy’s health deteriorated—he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, and suffered a serious fall that same year—the series was reimagined as a one-hour documentary. The focus shifted to Ozzy’s battle to get fit enough to perform, his determination to take the stage one last time, and the family’s efforts to support him through the rollercoaster of his final years.
Filmed over three years, Coming Home offers what the BBC describes as "unique and intimate access" to the Osbourne family. Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne all appear, sharing moments of humor, reflection, and raw emotion. The film captures not just the public face of a rock legend, but the private struggles and triumphs of a family navigating illness, legacy, and the looming shadow of loss. As Kelly Osbourne remarks in the documentary, "Iron Man wasn’t really made of iron." That vulnerability—so often masked by Ozzy’s larger-than-life stage persona—emerges as the heart of the film.
Clare Sillery, head of commissioning for BBC Documentaries, described the programme as one that "captures family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy Osbourne a global icon." Executive producers Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, who spent years working closely with the family, called it "an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream." They added, "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."
The anticipation for Coming Home is heightened by its timing and subject matter. The film was set to offer viewers a front-row seat to Ozzy’s last days on stage, his efforts to overcome debilitating illness, and the family’s collective resilience. It would have shown, as Radio Times put it, "the dramatic consequences of his ill health," but also the humor and warmth that defined the Osbournes for so many years in the public eye.
For those worried they might never see the documentary, the BBC has been clear that the delay is only temporary. "The new TX [transmission] date will be confirmed shortly," the network reassured in every statement. The family’s request for postponement, so soon after Ozzy’s passing, has been met with understanding and support from fans and the media alike.
Meanwhile, the appetite for stories about Ozzy’s life remains strong. A second feature-length documentary, Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now, is in production for Paramount+ and expected to be released later in 2025. That film will delve into the challenges Ozzy faced after his 2019 fall, his ongoing health battles, and his unyielding desire to perform. While Coming Home promises an inside look at the Osbourne family’s final journey together, No Escape From Now is set to offer a different, but equally personal, perspective on the legend’s last chapter.
Ozzy Osbourne’s story is one of extraordinary highs and devastating lows—a saga of music, mayhem, and love that has captivated generations. The delay of Coming Home may have left fans waiting a little longer, but the respect shown for the family’s wishes is a reminder that, behind the headlines and the heavy metal anthems, there’s a real family dealing with loss. When the documentary finally airs, it’s sure to be more than just a tribute to a rock icon; it will be a testament to the enduring spirit of a man and the family who loved him.
