Ricky Gervais has reportedly hired his own security guards for performances in the wake of author Sir Salman Rushdie being stabbed whilst he was on stage last week.
The comedian, 61, has been performing a series of intimate "work-in progress" shows at Leicester Square Theatre in London recently to try out new material on live audiences.
He's said to have "beefed up" his security team for such events though following the attack of Rushdie, 75 - who was stabbed at a venue in New York state earlier this month.
It comes following other incidents at celebrity events, such as comedian Dave Chappelle, 48, being attacked on stage whilst performing in Los Angeles in May this year.
A source the Sun : "Ricky isn't taking any chances. He has employed his own security guards for the gigs so he can have a laugh and relax in the knowledge that he's safe."
"He hasn't wasted any expense. They're the real deal and are positioned in the aisles and around the stage, keeping a close eye on audience members," the source said.
They added: "The venue is also doing a lot for general safety as audience members are to be searched before entry and no glasses or bottles are to be served by the venue."
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The source told the outlet that it seems as though everyone involved is "taking precautions," with them further commenting about such: "It's necessary in these times."
The Mirror approached Gervais' reps for comment.
Gervais - who is due to perform more shows at Leicester Square Theatre next week - is said to be testing out new material for his next tour and Netflix special Armageddon.
It will be his third stand-up project released through the streaming platform, following Humanity in 2018 and more recently SuperNature, which came out in May this year.
SuperNature is said to have been a record-breaking special, though comedian Gervais came under fire for some of the comments that were made during the stand-up routine.
There was a particular backlash from viewers over references to the transgender community in his jokes, with Gervais having since opened up about his style of comedy.
Asked on the One Show about making audiences feel "uncomfortable," he said: "I think that's what comedy is for really to get us through stuff, and ideally taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place it hasn't been before."
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