BBC Radio 2 announces huge schedule shake-up as Ozzy Osbourne honoured

BBC Radio 2 has made a huge change in honour of Ozzy Osbourne. The Black Sabbath rocker died earlier this week at the age of 76 after battling numerous health issues and now the flagship radio station has decided that Shaun Keaveny’s Radio 2 Rock Show on Friday at 11pm will be entirely devoted to the Prince of Darkness himself.

Some of the icon's best known work includes Paranoid, Iron Man and Changes, and the programme will spend its night time slot looking back at some of those classics.

What's more, the special will also take a look at Ozzy's solo career, which, after years of success with Black Sabbath, began in 1980 with the single Crazy Train and saw him right through to 2022, when he released what became his final album Patient Number 9.

Listeners will also be able to hear Ozzy's very own choice of Rock God which he recorded for Johnnie Walker's very first Radio 2 Rock Show back in June 2018, and excerpts from interviews with the man himself chosen from the archives. Listeners can tune in from 11pm, and the show will also be made available on BBC Sounds.

Ozzy died just days after he had performed his farewell gig at Villa Park in his hometown of Birmingham. News of Ozzy's death broke on Wednesday evening, and it came after a number of health woes for the legendary music star.

The family statement announcing his death read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love." We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."

The family message was preceded by a location stamp, that read: "Birmingham, England July 22, 2025" - revealing that Ozzy made it back home for one last time. He is survived by his wife Sharon and their children Jack, Aimee, Kelly as well as Jessica, Louis and Elliott from his first marriage.

Taking to Instagram hours after his broadcast, BBC Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders said of his idol's passing: "As I was on air tonight, the news broke that we had lost one of the greatest showman the world of metal and music has ever seen. The bands and artists that dare to fly the flag in the name of rock n roll do so because Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath did first. He was a blessing to music. Rest In Peace the Prince Of Darkness."

Sharon responded: "Jack thank you for your tribute to Ozzy tonight, bless you." Meanwhile, Sir Elton John, a close friend of Sharon and Ozzy, also shared a moving tribute.

Rocket Man hitmaker Sir Elton John shared a picture of himself and Ozzy, and wrote: "So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."

An air ambulance landed close to Ozzy's Buckinghamshire mansion at around 10:30am on Tuesday, and medics spent hours attempting to revive the Black Sabbath musician. A local resident said they became alarmed after noticing the helicopter in the quiet village and saw it landing close to Ozzy and Sharon's mansion.

They told the MailOnline : "All of us were talking about it and wondering what had happened. We immediately feared it may be for him as he was known to be in fragile health. When we heard later that night that he had died it confirmed our worst fears."

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Air Ambulance said: "We can confirm that our helicopter was dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident near Chalfont St Giles yesterday."

The chopper took off from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and arrived after just 15 minutes. The red aircraft is used to treat patients requiring the most critical care. Today, Ozzy's sister told the Mirror how she was glad he was able to die in England, after he had been yearning to return home, having spent two decades in Los Angeles.

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