Watch: Hundreds welcome Ozzy the Bull’s return to Birmingham New Street Station after the Commonwealth Games

He’s here, safe in his new home after 15,000 signed the petition to save him from the scrap heap.

Ozzy - the Birmingham Bull - has been unveiled at New Street Station, and I’m here today to take a first look at the iconic sculpture which attracted so much attention during the Commonwealth Games.

Among the hundreds that turned out to welcome the icon’s return was Sharon Osbourne, with Ozzy the Bull being named after her husband - Birmingham heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy’s older sister Jean also attended the big reveal. Ozzy has suffered with health issues recently and wasn’t in the city today.

Steven Ireland, Director of Stations for Network Rail, told BirminghamWorld: “So today we have unveiled Ozzy the Bull, he’s been named by the public. We’ve just unveiled him today and we want to encourage people to come down and see him in the station which is in the heart of our city, and the heart of our rail network. Come in, enjoy seeing him, then go out and see Birmingham city centre as well!”

Birmingham New Street station is abuzz today as Ozzy the Bull springs to life for his first full public viewing. After undergoing a near-complete reconstruction over the last six months, Ozzy is displaying his captivating mechanical moves that include his glowing eyes, swishing tail, and moving head. Over the initial ten days, the sequence, lasting several minutes, will be repeated hourly between 10 am and 8 pm, ensuring everyone gets their opportunity for a marvel at Ozzy’s moves.

“It’s like breathtaking, this is mammoth, huge, but it’s just brilliant isn’t it,” Sharon Osbourne said. “For Ozzy to be born and bred here and having spent so much time in this station, because of course he didn’t have a car, so he was everywhere from New Street,” she explained. “He would never, ever, ever have thought that at this time in his life, this would happen.”

Mayor Andy Street and boxer Delicious Orie were among the crowds as the bull was unveiled following a countdown, after being built behind screens.

Ozzy is not the only draw today. Women chain-makers, who shared the spotlight during last year’s opening ceremony, are here too. And adding to the spirit, a roaming brass band is also welcoming Ozzy to his new home. Over 15,000 people signed the petition to save Ozzy from the scrap heap and find him a new home - showing just how much Brummies identified with this symbol of the city.

This notable debut lines up just in time to celebrate the first anniversary of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the impending start of the Birmingham Festival this year, which commences on Friday. Undoubtedly, the unveiling of Ozzy not only elevates the charm of New Street Station but also reignites the spirit of unity and perseverance that defines Birmingham in the legacy of Commonwealth Games.