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Friday, Oct 03, 2025

It's been 15 years since best worst case of mistaken identity on BBC News

It's been 15 years since best worst case of mistaken identity on BBC News

Today marks 15 years since Guy Goma was accidentally interviewed on BBC News.


The computer technician had been visiting the corporation for a job interview, however, in the mother of all mix-ups, he ended up being grilled on live TV after being mistaken for technology expert Guy Kewney.

Goma expertly managed the nightmare situation and when he realised he’d been brought in to comment on technology Apple Computer’s court case with the Beatles’ record label, Apple Corps, he attempted to answer the questions thrown at him.

His face upon realising he was on TV is one we’ll never forget.

But how did the whole shenanigan actually happen?

Goma had been waiting in the main reception area of the BBC Television Centre to be interviewed for a job as an accountant in the corporation’s IT department, according to reports.

Guy Goma didn’t shy away from answering questions like a pro


At the same time, Guy Kewney, a technology expert, was in another reception area gearing up for a live television interview on the subject of the Apple court case.

A producer was sent to get Kewney was told that Kewney was in the main reception area. When he asked the receptionist where Guy Kewney was, they pointed to Goma, even after they asked if they were sure this was the right person.

The producer had seen a photo of Kewney, but only had five minutes before the live interview was due to take place. They approached Goma and asked him if he was ‘Guy’.

Hearing his first name, Goma confirmed he was Guy, and was then led to the News 24 studio, put into makeup, and ushered to the television studio, where he was seated in front of the cameras and wired up with a microphone.

Guy Kewney was the one who was meant to be interviewed


Although he thought the situation was strange, he still believed he was about to participate in a job interview.

The penny only dropped when Goma was introduced by interviewer Karen Bowerman as internet expert Guy Kewney, and he was visibly shocked by the mix-up.

Aware that he was on live television, Goma attempted to answer questions about the case and its ramifications for the music industry.

Meanwhile, Kewney was still in the waiting area and was shocked when he saw Goma interviewed in his place, though he was not able to hear the audio.

According to legend, Goma attended his job interview 20 minutes after the television blunder, but wasn’t hired.

Some time later, Goma and Kewney met.

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