BBC to be 'sued' by man mistakenly interviewed live on air over lost earnings

​Guy Goma

Guy Goma arrived at BBC's headquarters for a job interview in 2006 but found himself being interviewed about internet music downloads

BBC
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 28/08/2023

- 12:16

Updated: 28/08/2023

- 13:31

The man was mistaken for a BBC technology expert and forced to take part in a live interview

A man who became a viral sensation after being wrongly interviewed on the BBC more than 17 years ago says he is suing the corporation over a lack of royalties from the clip.

Guy Goma arrived at BBC's headquarters for a job interview in 2006 but found himself being interviewed about internet music downloads.


Goma had been mistaken for technology journalist Guy Kewney who was due to speak on air about a legal dispute between Apple Corps and Apple Computers.

The blunder became popular online and has been viewed more than five million times on the broadcaster’s YouTube channel.

BBC

Goma had been mistaken for technology journalist Guy Kewney who was due to speak on air about a legal dispute between Apple Corps and Apple Computers

PA

However, Goma told a podcast he has not received any royalties from the interview.

He told the Accidental Celebrities podcast: “I contacted them, they didn’t answer me. Did they pay me for that interview? No.

“They are waiting for me to take them to the court.”

When asked by hosts Josh Pieters and Archie Manners if he intends to go to court against the BBC, he replied: “I’m going to go … because of the money they made on it and they didn’t give me any single penny.”

Discussing what happened when he arrived at the studios, Goma said: "I said, 'excuse me, I don't need that, I just came for the job interview, I don't need makeup'."

Speaking about the moment he was interviewed live on air, he added: "I'm honest. I said, 'God help me' at this time, because I don't know what to say...

"I just said to myself, those two products need to work together."

Goma said he informed the BBC that it had the "wrong person" following the interview, but that the corporation did not "say a single thing for a week".

Goma said he informed the BBC that it had the 'wrong person' following the interview, but that the corporation did not 'say a single thing for a week'

BBC

He went on to explain to the people interviewing him for the job he had been interviewed on live TV.

But Goma said he did not receive a job offer after the interview following his television appearance.

He also told the podcast that he is writing a book about his experience, with the potential title of The Wrong Guy.

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