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.

About The Author

Elliott Gotkine is an Emmy-winning journalist. In a 25-year career spanning three continents, he’s worked as a correspondent for CNN, Bloomberg Television and the BBC (he left the Beeb after accidentally putting Guy Goma on air). Along the way, he’s interviewed multiple world leaders, titans of industry. And Guy. He now freelances for CNN, most recently out of the network’s bureau in London, where he lives with his two children and his one-eyed dog, Molly.

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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