Sharon Osbourne: Why I turned a blind eye to Ozzy’s groupies

‘I don’t care what folks say about the best way I look,’ says Sharon Osbourne along with her typical defiance. 

But then she glances within the mirror – and what she sees clearly bothers her. ‘I know I look gaunt and I know everything that goes along with it. And I did it.’

Sharon has certainly shrunk since we final met for an interview 18 months in the past at her Los Angeles house. The good pink bob minimize remains to be in place, her make-up is immaculate and the lilac cardigan she’s sporting at present is elegant, however her face is completely different. 

‘I’m too gaunt and I can’t put any weight on. I need to, as a result of I really feel I’m too skinny. I’m below 100lb and I don’t need to be,’ she says. ‘Be careful what you wish for.’

She was at all times petite, however now she resembles a tiny hen as she sits in an enormous plush armchair at Claridge’s Hotel in London along with her ft tucked up. 

She has finished this to herself, she says, by spending months on a drug designed to assist Type-2 diabetics handle their blood sugar ranges.

‘I started on Ozempic last December and I’ve been off it for some time now, however my warning is don’t give it to youngsters, it’s simply too simple. 

‘You can lose a lot weight and it’s simple to grow to be hooked on that, which could be very harmful. I couldn’t cease dropping pounds and now I’ve misplaced 42lb and I can’t afford to lose any extra.’

Her bluntness could be stunning coming from anybody else. But that is Sharon Osbourne, who has at all times been very open and sincere about her responses to physique picture and weight points, from her struggles with bulimia to present process cosmetic surgery. 

‘I’ve by no means actually cared what folks say about the best way I look as a result of I do know I’ve paid a fortune to try to look enticing,’ she says in her gravelly accent, formed by a lifetime of hopping forwards and backwards throughout the Atlantic. 

‘I was never a beauty. I was never blessed that way. I was blessed with a pair of balls instead of great t**s!’

There’s little question she has braveness and Sharon will present it once more when she takes to the stage along with her new stay present Cut The Crap, wherein she’s going to inform the outstanding story of her life. And there’s actually lots to say. 

The daughter of a infamous music promoter, Sharon took on the sexist world of 70s onerous rock as a supervisor herself. 

She married the Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne and turned him into an enormous international success with an outsized fame because the hell-raising ‘Prince of Darkness’.

They lastly plan to return house to England from Los Angeles as he tries to get better from horrible sickness. ‘It’s a complete change of way of life. We’ve each mentioned, “We want this.”’

They’ve been primarily based in LA since earlier than Sharon minimize a take care of MTV there within the early noughties to make a pioneering actuality present primarily based round her household, The Osbournes. 

She then turned a tv star in her personal proper, first as a choose on The X Factor and later as an outspoken chat present host. 

‘I try to be as truthful about myself as possible. I am what I am. A lot of people put up shields but I don’t have one. I’m too outdated. I couldn’t stick with it. I’d break character if I attempted to faux I’ve discovered God.’

So there will probably be no holds barred within the new present. No nerves both, because it gained’t be her first time in a theatre. 

‘I was a stage school brat and I did appear at the Palladium at about 13 in the chorus for a pantomime. I studied ballet and loved dancing. My parents wanted me to be a performing artiste but I didn’t have the products.’

Born and bred in bohemian post-war Brixton, she moved to posh Berkeley Square when her father made some cash. 

‘That was a huge jump. I was just lost. What are you going to do for fun on Bond Street as a teenager? So I used to do things like making an appointment in Elizabeth Arden and dropping a stink bomb. I got into a lot of trouble.’

Her dad managed Jerry Lee Lewis and Electric Light Orchestra amongst different stars and was a tough man referred to as the Al Capone of Pop. 

‘My brother and I were taken on tour and would be left alone in the hotel for long periods and cause chaos. We’d break into the kitchens. We have been each bolshy youngsters.’

Sharon began work along with her father. ‘I was mouthy and ballsy and I tried to intimidate people, that was how I survived. If I had been a nice girl, they would’ve eaten me alive.’ She wouldn’t do sure issues, although. 

‘In those days it was all about how you should take people out, get them a couple of hookers or buy them a new stereo system and they’d play your report or put your act on their present. I couldn’t play that sport.’ Why not? 

‘I was never into drugs and I wasn’t going to get somebody a prostitute. I used to take a look at the best way they might abuse girls: their assistant could be within the room and when she bent over they’d all be giggles and gazing her t**s and all of that. I used to be like, “Oh, f*** off you creeps.”’

The music business has been remodeled since then, she says. ‘Now people are so wary. The MeToo movement has totally changed the workplace for women.’

Her life modified within the late 70s when she went to America to take care of Ozzy Osbourne, who was falling out together with his Black Sabbath bandmates. 

She ended up marrying Ozzy, however how did she take care of all of the groupies that should have been hanging round? 

‘I was so used to it because that was the world I knew. That’s what comes together with being well-known. It was at all times there.’

Was she keen to show a blind eye? ‘Yeah. Especially if somebody is insecure or a narcissist that wants it all [as he was]. I was always like, “Wear a condom and never ask names or addresses. You don’t need to know.” 

‘When it will get to one thing extra private than that, then it’s an issue. Then I’m not going to show a blind eye.’

Ozzy and Sharon did cut up up for some time after he confessed to an affair together with his hairdresser, however they celebrated their fortieth marriage ceremony anniversary final 12 months. So how have they managed to remain collectively? 

‘You’ve obtained to recollect I had three youngsters. I had a household to carry collectively.’ Aimee was born in 1983, Kelly the next 12 months and Jack the 12 months after that. ‘I didn’t have mother and father to take care of me.’

Sharon’s dad resented her taking up Ozzy’s profession. ‘I couldn’t name up and say, “Listen, what do I do? I’ve got this problem with my husband.” There was nobody. You get by. It takes a toll on you mentally, in fact it does. You push it down, then someday you simply explode. 

‘It’s obtained to be 30 years in the past that I found antidepressants, one thing to even out my temper and preserve me on a degree that was habitable.’

Ozzy is now 74 years outdated and Sharon is 71, so how do they get alongside as of late? ‘Well, for nearly five years my husband’s been actually sick. Relationships change on a regular basis, as we alter.’ 

The singer has Parkinson’s illness and has additionally suffered from spinal issues after a fall. ‘We’re at a stage the place I’ve been caring for my husband, not as a result of I’ve to however as a result of I need to and I really like him.’

Sickness has stored Ozzy from touring, so she’s seen extra of him than ever earlier than. 

‘He’s had seven operations in 5 years. There’s nothing extra they will do. Now it’s about recuperating. He was on big quantities of blood thinners so it’s a must to watch out, as a result of in case you fall once more you may bleed out. It’s like he’s a bit of china and also you’ve obtained to place cotton wool round him.’

It’s a far cry from his devil-may-care picture. ‘It’s simply been heartbreaking for me to see my husband able the place he’s not self-sufficient, he wants assist. He was so vibrant, with such a zest for all times. But you study to adapt,’ she says softly. 

For all of the rows we’ve seen between them on digicam through the years, there’s a tenderness now. ‘I will always be there for my husband. I adore him. I owe him so much. He gave me the best things in my life, my kids.’

Aimee is now an actor and singer, regardless of having stayed away from the cameras when The Osbournes was being made. Kelly and Jack turned well-known by the present and each work in tv. The household stay in LA however Sharon’s been making an attempt to return to stay in Britain for a while. 

‘I used to love LA but I’m uncomfortable with the best way it’s modified. When Ozzy had his accident I used to be like, “God, if only I could get you home to England and have some space.”’ 

By house, she means the 350 acres of land round their Grade-II listed house, Welders House, in Buckinghamshire. We’ve obtained a forest to see the wildlife and there’s privateness.’

The authentic plan was to be there completely by final Christmas. ‘The house took longer than we thought. Now the gas and water pipes need changing, so there’s an enormous trench throughout the perimeter. I can’t keep there as a result of there’s no warmth.’

Ozzy’s operations have additionally stored him within the States, however now these are over will the couple make it house for Christmas this 12 months? ‘I hope we’re in our home,’ she says.

But Sharon has 5 grandchildren, so how will she handle with seeing them much less? 

‘That’s the heartbreaking factor. I can see them at any time when I need in LA, we’re collectively a few instances per week. We’ll have to present that up, however they’ll come over for holidays, we’ll go there for birthdays and we gained’t be parted for lengthy,’ she says.

Jack, her son, is commonly in London. ‘Jack’s at all times been my rock. If something occurs I am going to him and he’s there to advise. He has a number of sclerosis, however thank God he’s doing nice. He simply obtained married and he’s completely happy.’

What about her personal profession? The Osbournes have a profitable podcast as of late. Sharon additionally seems on TalkTV and says it’s simpler to talk her thoughts on this nation. 

‘I’m not woke. I don’t faux that I’m. I’m very tolerant. I’ve nothing in opposition to any race, any faith. You depart me alone, I’ll depart you alone. If you begin on me, I’ll begin on you. That’s it.’

Talking of controversy, what has she fabricated from the latest allegations in opposition to Russell Brand? 

‘I wasn’t shocked. Not in any respect. An excessive, outrageous individual. I noticed the documentary about him and thought, “How the hell did anybody get away with that behaviour?” Women simply gained’t settle for that any extra. Women have a voice and so they use it now and it’s sensible.’

He was flavour of the month in Los Angeles for some time although, so certainly Sharon frolicked with him then? 

‘I did. My husband’s going to kill me as a result of he requested me to not discuss him. I knew him, though not effectively in any respect,’ she says. 

She’s not shocked he’s being referred to as out now. ‘You play, you pay. It doesn’t matter how way back, it at all times comes out. No matter who he’s. All of those folks suppose it’s by no means going to return out. Well, life catches up with you.’

Clearly there’s a motive why Sharon’s new present is known as Cut The Crap, and he or she’s apparently able to take any query in any respect from the viewers. ‘What are they going to ask me that I haven’t been requested earlier than?’ She laughs, assured after a lifetime of claiming the unsayable. 

‘They can’t embarrass me as a result of I discuss all of it anyway. Bring it on. I’ve seen all of it and I’ve heard all of it earlier than.’

• Sharon Osbourne – Cut The Crap, 21 and 24 January 2024. For tickets go to tinyurl.com/4zn592cm