Birmingham Mail

The news pages for the next day’s edition of the Birmingham Mail had been wrapped up when news broke of the death of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne. As Osbourne was a Birmingham native and local legend, it was clear the front page would have to change. 

Birmingham page planner Adrian Caffrey cleared the first seven pages for pictures and tributes to Osbourne and set to work designing the front cover. The aim was to reflect the joy that Osbourne had brought Birmingham over the years – and vice versa.

The result is a vibrant, striking tribute to Osbourne and his love for the city. The main picture is of a smiling Osbourne in his signature round-rimmed, tinted glasses being inducted onto Birmingham’s ‘Walk of Stars’ in 2007. This is contrasted with an inset picture of flowers laid at the bench on Birmingham's so-called ‘Black Sabbath’ bridge. The headline ‘Prince of Brum’ is a play on Osbourne’s nickname ‘The Prince of Darkness’, reminding readers that he was ‘one of their own’. As a final touch the masthead was changed from red to black.

The cover got the seal of approval from Osbourne’s family, with his wife Sharon Osbourne requesting several copies.

Judges’ comments: “A wonderful reminder of Ozzy Osboure's love of Birmingham. A striking front page… letting three simple words convey the message of how much he meant to the city.”