Guy Ritchie has been threatened by a crazed Madonna fan wielding a knife.

The British director - who split from the 50-year-old singer earlier this month after nearly eight years of marriage - was filming his new movie'Sherlock Holmes' in Manchester, England when a 16-year-old boy burst onto the set and threatened to kill him.

Guy, 40, was standing just metres away from the teenager, who was brandishing a 12-inch knife, when he began shouting: "Where's Guy? I am going to kill him! I'm Madonna's biggest fan! I'm going to kill Guy."

Security guards quickly stepped in to protect Guy and managed to wrestle the youth - dressed entirely in black - to the ground.

A source told Britain's The Sunday Mirror newspaper: "The bloke was screaming about Guy and shouting, 'I love Madonna'.

"It was terrifying. At first it seemed like a sick joke but it was soon obvious the knifeman was not messing around.

"Luckily there were four security guards and two policemen who were able to overpower him. Guy was understandably upset, but carried on as if nothing had happened."

The 16-year-old was arrested at the scene.

Madonna reportedly made an emotional plea to Guy to settle their divorce out of court recently, marking the first time she has contacted him since they announced their split.

A source said: "Madonna tried to remind Guy of all the good times, said how they must settle before it got any more messy and public. She said she had been saddened by some of the criticisms of her which appeared to have come from his camp."

The 'RocknRolla' director has reportedly turned down a £20 million settlement offer, and insists his main concern is securing access to the children they raise together - Lourdes, 11, Rocco, eight and David Banda, three.