Ozzy's wife undergoes cancer surgery

Sharon Osbourne, the wife of British heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne and co-star of the MTV reality series The Osbournes, has undergone surgery for cancer.

Family spokeswoman Lisa Vega would not say what type of cancer Osbourne has or where the surgery took place, but said it was completed by last night. No other details were available.

The Osbournes, the highest-rated programme in MTV’s history, chronicles the unorthodox home life of Ozzy, Sharon, and two of their three children, 17-year-old daughter Kelly and 16-year-old son Jack.

Today is the 20th wedding anniversary of the couple, who live in Los Angeles.

Vega said the entire family - including their 18-year-old daughter, Aimee, who doesn’t appear on the show - were at the hospital with Sharon.

"Everyone is in good spirits because the prognosis is very positive," she said. "The doctors have told them all she’s expected to make a full recovery. Obviously, they’re concerned for their mother and are by her side, but they’re all looking forward to a positive outcome."

Vega said Sharon, 50, would be in hospital overnight, but was unsure whether her stay would last longer.

MTV released a written statement yesterday, saying: "We know Sharon will conquer this with the same tenacity and vibrancy she approaches everything else in her life.

"Our thoughts are with Sharon and the entire Osbourne family and we send her our love and support for a complete recovery."

Because of the surgery, the first two dates of Osbourne’s Ozzfest 2002 summer music tour, in Bristol, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, have been postponed.

A second season of The Osbournes is due to begin airing in the autumn. It will consist of 20 episodes, twice as many as the first season.