Ricky Gervais films scenes for black comedy Derek in Hampstead graveyard

Ricky Gervais was snapped in a Hampstead graveyard this week filming scenes for his latest controversial black comedy.

The actor and comedian, who has a home and office in the village, picked Hampstead Parish Church in Church Row as the backdrop for the first full series of his new TV show Derek.

The 51-year-old plays an autograph hunter working in a care home in the Channel 4 TV show.

The programme’s pilot in April received a drubbing at the hands of TV critics for apparently mocking people with learning disabilities.

But Channel 4 commissioned a full series of the comedy in May after the first episode drew an audience of 3.2million viewers – the highest rating for a scripted comedy in two years.