'I know how SHARON FEELS'

After Ozzy Osbourne's death, we speak to one woman who understands the heartbreak of watching a loved one lose their fight with Parkinson's

- 

When it comes to celebrities with international rock star status, you don't get much bigger than Ozzy Osbourne.

The working-class lad from Birmingham, born John Michael Osbourne in 1948, found fame in heavy metal band Black Sabbath in the 70s. In 2002, he became the star of the first-ever reality TV show, The Osbournes, alongside his wife Sharon and two of their kids, Jack and Kelly. The sound of Ozzy bellowing 'Sharon!' will go down in TV history.

In January 2020, aged 71, he announced that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that can have wide-ranging symptoms such as thinking issues, depression and swallowing problems - but it didn't stop him touring and performing.

'There's so many different types of Parkinson's. It's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body, and it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day,' his wife Sharon explained.

Last month, Ozzy held a final farewell gig with his former band members, raising a massive £140 million for charity. Just 17 days later, on 22 July 2025, his family announced his death.

In the UK today, around 166,000 people have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, and there is still no cure. As the world grieves a legend, it's his nearest and dearest that will suffer the loss the most.

We speak to a woman who has already experienced what Ozzy's family is going through...

'I STRUGGLED TO RECOGNISE HIM'

Joy Milne, 75, lost her husband of 42 years to Parkinson’s.