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Published by Liberalis Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
The remarkable inside story of the greatest cockup in the history of TV
On May 8, 2006, Congolese finance graduate Guy Goma turns up for a job interview at the BBC, when his world explodes. Mistaken for a news guest whose name was also Guy (and who was waiting in a different reception area), he’s ushered into a studio and interviewed live on TV. As he’s introduced as “Guy Kewney”, terror washes over his face like a tidal wave, before giving way to a Munch-esque silent scream. He’s peppered with questions about the Apple Computer court case. In Francophone-flecked English, he bluffs his way through the interview with answers so hilariously nonsensical that he wins over viewers — and then the world. “The Wrong Guy”, as the British press dubs him, becomes a legend.
What really happened that day? Who was responsible, and how did it impact Guy's life? Twenty years on, Elliott Gotkine, together with Guy Goma, reveals for the first time the remarkable, stranger-than-fiction story of The Wrong Guy, why his 15 minutes of fame endured, the chaos of 24-hour news, and how celebrity — and destiny — isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.
On May 8, 2006, Congolese finance graduate Guy Goma turns up for a job interview at the BBC, when his world explodes. Mistaken for a news guest whose name was also Guy (and who was waiting in a different reception area), he’s ushered into a studio and interviewed live on TV. As he’s introduced as “Guy Kewney”, terror washes over his face like a tidal wave, before giving way to a Munch-esque silent scream. He’s peppered with questions about the Apple Computer court case. In Francophone-flecked English, he bluffs his way through the interview with answers so hilariously nonsensical that he wins over viewers — and then the world. “The Wrong Guy”, as the British press dubs him, becomes a legend.
What really happened that day? Who was responsible, and how did it impact Guy's life? Twenty years on, Elliott Gotkine, together with Guy Goma, reveals for the first time the remarkable, stranger-than-fiction story of The Wrong Guy, why his 15 minutes of fame endured, the chaos of 24-hour news, and how celebrity — and destiny — isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.
Product Details
- Publisher: Liberalis Books (April 28, 2026)
- Length: 200 pages
- ISBN13: 9781806951178
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Raves and Reviews
Funny, compelling and compassionate, Elliott Gotkine’s definitive account of one of the most memorable TV moments ever seen shows how he (for it was him) helped turn a guy called Guy Goma into the enduring legend of ‘The Wrong Guy.
– Tim Samuels, award-winning former BBC broadcaster and best-selling author of Who Stole My Spear?
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The Wrong Guy
eBook 9781806951178
