Tuesday, 26 September 2006

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Jack Osbourne saw his dad try to strangle his mum

Ozzy and Sharon's son lifts the lid on his shocking childhood

Growing up as the son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne was never going to be easy.

From touring with Black Sabbath at the age of 11 to coping with his famous family, Jack's childhood was a far cry from The Waltons - especially when his dad tried to kill his mum.

The 21-year-old presenter has revealed what life was like with his manic and ferociously drunk father in his new book which is published by Pan Macmillan on 6 October.

He says: 'I was only very small when my dad tried to kill my mum. He had been downing bottles of vodka for a few days and then started acting all weird with Mum. "We've decided that you have to die," he told her.

'So she hit the panic button that connected to the local police station as Dad grappled her to the ground with his hands around her throat and tried to strangle her.

'Dad was hauled into court but my mum refused to press charges, so he was ordered to go into rehab - not for the first time and not for the last - and a few weeks later he was home.'