River Thames is lit up by huge explosion as emergency services are put on standby for elaborate fireball stunt for the new series of Guy Ritchie's TV show MobLand

A colossal fireball engulfed a warehouse near the River Thames on Sunday night, as director Guy Ritchie pulled off a huge stunt for the new series of MobLand. 

The Tom Hardy drama lit up London's skyline as an explosion tore through a warehouse near Newham, shocking locals and sending flames high into the sky.

Emergency services were placed on standby as filming commenced for the second series of the Paramount+ show.

Tom, 48, who plays crime fixer Harry De Souza, wielded a shotgun before the warehouse erupted, according to reports. 

One stunned local said: 'We heard this massive bang and the whole sky lit up orange. For a second we thought something had gone terribly wrong - then we realised it was a film set. It was absolutely mental.'

The gritty series tells the story of warring crime families in London but a real-life personal battle is also said to be taking place between the stars.  

Insiders on the set say relations between Dame Helen Mirren and Tom have become 'extremely strained' as they film the second series.

Sources have told The Mail on Sunday that Dame Helen, 80, who portrays the formidable matriarch Maeve Harrigan, is 'getting increasingly frustrated' at heartthrob Hardy's attitude on set. 

One said: 'Tom's character is charming. He's the calm one but it is quite the opposite when the cameras stop. Dame Helen is a joy, she is a total pro and she has worked with so many people over the years. 

'But she is getting increasingly frustrated with Tom and his attitude. He can be late to filming too and that is annoying for Dame Helen, who is extremely professional and disciplined. 

'His tone is something Dame Helen doesn't like, along with his lateness. She expects better. She holds people to a high standard. She's 80. She's been there and seen it all.

'The behind-the-scenes crew watch it all and believe that she no longer looks as happy working on scenes with him. It has all become quite personal between them. 

'It feels like Tom is winding her up. There is much chatter that he swaggers around like he's the king. 

'He is very, very arrogant. It's a fantastic show and everyone loves working on it. It's such a shame there is this undertone.' 

Another source says Hardy, who is married to Peaky Blinders actress Charlotte Riley, 43, has a tendency to get cross behind the scenes. A representative for the actor didn't respond when asked if he wished to comment. 

The storyline remains under wraps, but season two is expected to pick up in the immediate aftermath of the series one finale's bloodshed.

The first season saw the Harrigans defeat the Stevenson family, headed by Richie (Geoff Bell), but ended on a cliffhanger with Harry being stabbed by his wife, Jan (Joanne Froggatt).

Harry had used solicitor O'Hara Delaney as a double agent to eliminate Richie's gang, and then he and Conrad’s eldest son, Kevin (Paddy Considine), killed Richie.

The synopsis for the show reads: 'Power is up for grabs as two warring crime families clash in a battle that threatens to topple empires.

'In the crossfire stands Harry Da Souza, a street-smart 'fixer' who knows too well where loyalties lie when opposing forces collide.'

The gangster drama launched on Paramount+ in April and immediately impressed fans.

Consisting of ten episodes, the series has received a respectable 78 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes and many viewers have shared positive verdicts.