Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home | Preview (BBC One)

This intimate film, shot over three years with Ozzy Osbourne, his wife Sharon and their children Kelly and Jack, as well as their close friends, follows the final chapter of Ozzy’s life.

After 25 years living in LA, he and Sharon decide the time has come to return home to the English country house in Buckinghamshire where they once brought up their family. But before he retires completely, he’s also determined to perform one last time for his army of fans.

Ozzy and Sharon face a monumental battle. As well as a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Ozzy has had a succession of back surgeries following a fall, which have left him in extreme pain, frequently struggling to walk. So, that means lots more time spent at home surrounded by a growing army of grandchildren, as well as his pack of dogs, all 11 of whom get to share Sharon and Ozzy’s bed. For a man who has always questioned why go out at all when you have a house, this isn’t all bad.

The resulting film is a moving portrait of one of the world’s most entertaining families at a pivotal moment in their history. 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. As Kelly poignantly puts it, the iron man isn’t made of iron.

But for all that, rock’s great survivor isn’t quite done yet. Ahead of retirement, Ozzy is determined to perform one last time, for himself and for his fans. Whatever it takes.

Pulling off both the move and the gig will be a phenomenal achievement, and son Jack is worried about the toll of relocating to a country that his parents have barely spent time in over the last two decades, as well as the impact on their close-knit family dynamics.

But Ozzy has never been a man to take no for an answer, and he sets about achieving his goals with the determination, blistering honesty and razor-sharp sense of humour that have endeared him to millions for over 50 years. He stops at nothing to make his body work as well as it used to, with the film capturing remarkable levels of resolve.

Ozzy’s death, just two weeks after a final, triumphant, homecoming gig, is met with shock and grief around the world. Thousands of fans gather to watch his funeral cortege in his home town of Birmingham as it is live-streamed to viewers across the globe. The extraordinary impact of this working-class hero cannot be more apparent.

The film is a candid and moving portrait of Birmingham’s favourite son, and of the family that adore and support him through his last performance and the final chapter of his life.

Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, says: “We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows 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.”

Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, Executive Producers at Expectation, say: “It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time - our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream...

"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.”

Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home (1x60) airs Thursday 2nd October at 9pm on BBC One.