After 67 years of waiting, a rapturous centre court crowd was finally able to celebrate a British winner of the Wimbledon men's title yesterday. Unfortunately for the nation's devoted - and patient - fans, yesterday's festivities were the stuff of fiction.

The shooting of Wimbledon, the Movie, began yesterday and in an attempt to bring a little verité to the plainly outrageous storyline (plucky British no-hoper challenges for Wimbledon title) the film-makers engaged the centre court crowd as extras. Spectators arriving to see Tim Henman's victorious second-round match with Michael Llodra found themselves roped in to the crowd scene before the British No 1 took to the court.

The film, a romantic comedy produced by Working Title, whose credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral, traces the unlikely progress of an ageing British pro, Peter Colt, played by Paul Bettany, from obscurity to victory.

The crowd was asked to cheer Bettany and his opponent Jake Hammond (played by Austin Nicols) on to the court at the start of the match, and then to celebrate the moment of victory.

The director, Richard Loncraine, refused to say which round the match was supposed to be, or which player was scripted to win (though the scoreboard revealed a five-set thriller).

But the crowd celebrated as if the ghost of Fred Perry's 1936 victory, the last by a British man, had finally been laid to rest.

Among the spectators were Henman's parents, Tony and Jane, who applauded the fictional victor with uncharacteristic vigour.

After his brush with sporting triumph, Bettany, who had not picked up a racket until six months ago, said: "It was such a rush walking out on to the court. I was so nervous, like nothing I have ever experienced. The idea that people experience that and go out and play is extraordinary. The calm they must have ... My legs wanted to buckle."

The film, due to be released next year, is expected to feature cameo appearances from real-life players. Negotiations are under way with Serena Williams and John McEnroe.

Alan Mills, tournament referee, accompanied the actors on to the court. "This is no different to what I always do on finals day," he said.

One thing Mills has never done on finals day is lead out Henman, who eased into the third round yesterday with a straight sets victory.

Should the British No 1 go all the way, fact really would be stranger than fiction.