Henry Cavill film double says driving spy boat in Argylle was 'surreal'

The movie features the SportJet 520 in a chase along the River Thames

A boat technician who doubled as a secret agent in the brand new Henry Cavill spy movie Argylle has described the experience as "surreal".

Louis Palmer-Smith, from Williams Jet Tenders, filled in for actor Sam Rockwell as he took control of the company's SportJet 520.

The movie features the vessel in a chase along the River Thames.

"It's opened us up to a new audience and helped us gain that global recognition," Mr Palmer-Smith said.

Williams Jet Tenders was selected for the film because the manufacturer is the tender-of-choice for Fairline Yachts, which was being used by film production company Marv.

Its tenders - boats that are used for travel to and from superyachts - use a jet propulsion system and are hand-built at an 80,000-sq-ft (24,384-sq-m) purpose-built facility in Berinsfield, Oxfordshire.

Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Henry Cavill all star in the action comedy

Technical salesperson Mr Palmer-Smith was called upon to handle the "really powerful" craft, which can reach speeds of 52mph.

"That model has 230hp so it's super-fast," he told the BBC.

He travelled with his team of experts to Chelsea Harbour to begin shooting early in the morning.

"It all came around so fast, and before we knew it we were there," he said.

"I wasn't expecting to have my hair cut, and before I knew it, it was being dyed, and it all just started happening. It worked out great in the end."

But working closely with the film crew to achieve what they wanted, he had no time for method-acting the part of a spy.

"We needed to get the scene right," he said.

"We needed to come out of the pier, head off in the right direction, be at the right speed, and it was about getting that right shot for the camera so it looked good for the film."

Louis Palmer-Smith, from Williams Jet Tenders, was called upon to handle the "really powerful" craft

Mr Palmer-Smith, who will be watching Argylle at the Leicester Square premiere, said he was expecting "great things" from the movie.

The action comedy also features Bryce Dallas Howard, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, Dua Lipa, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Sofia Boutella, and Samuel L. Jackson.

It was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who previously directed all three Kingsman movies, as well as Layer Cake, Kick-Ass, and X-Men: First Class.

Williams Jet Tenders' head of marketing Tom Dowdell said he was "thrilled" the company was involved "on the big screen in such an exciting new film".