Delayed after his death, Ozzy Osbourne’s final years film now set for BBC One broadcast

The BBC has confirmed a new broadcast date for its documentary chronicling the final years of Ozzy Osbourne’s life, after the film was dramatically pulled from schedules just hours before it was originally due to air.

Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will now be shown on BBC One and iPlayer at 21:00 BST on 2 October. The one-hour documentary was initially scheduled for 18 August but was withdrawn on the same day, with the broadcaster citing the Osbourne family’s request to postpone.

The decision came less than a month after the former Black Sabbath frontman died at the age of 76, a loss that reverberated across the music world and among generations of fans.

The BBC explained at the time: “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.”

Now rescheduled, the programme promises an “intimate” and “moving portrait” of the legendary rock star and his wife Sharon. It documents not only their return from Los Angeles to the UK but also Ozzy’s determined, often painful, attempt to make it back on stage for a farewell performance in Birmingham.

The final concert, staged in his home city in July, forms a central part of the narrative. The official synopsis describes how Ozzy battled deteriorating health while Sharon supported him through what is billed as a “monumental battle, both on a professional and personal level.”

The BBC’s description calls the documentary “a candid and moving portrait of one of Birmingham’s favourite sons, and the remarkable relationship with Sharon.” Their marriage, which has lasted for more than fifty years, stands as a backdrop to Ozzy’s fierce refusal to abandon his goals.

Family tensions also play a part. Their son Jack Osbourne is seen worrying about the physical and emotional toll of uprooting his parents after nearly two decades in the United States, while also questioning the impact on the family’s famously close dynamics.

Yet, according to the filmmakers, Ozzy’s unwavering determination drives the story forward. “Ozzy has never been a man to take no for an answer,” the synopsis declares, noting his “blistering honesty and razor-sharp sense of humour” that endeared him to millions for over five decades.

The documentary captures his relentless efforts to restore his health and perform again, portraying what the BBC calls “remarkable levels of resolve.”

The rescheduled broadcast is not the only tribute to the singer’s final chapter. A separate film, announced this week, will debut on Paramount+ on 7 October.

Titled Ozzy: No Escape From Now, the project promises an “all-access, intimate view” of the rock icon’s six-year health battle following a fall in 2019. Sharon Osbourne serves as an executive producer, further cementing the personal nature of the account.

Between the BBC and Paramount+ documentaries, fans will be given an unflinching glimpse into the last phase of a life defined by stage defiance, chaotic energy, and a refusal to surrender to frailty.

For many, the BBC film in particular will carry a special poignancy: shot during the last three years of Ozzy’s life, it captures his effort to come home, both to Britain and to the stage, one final time