Twenty years since the viral BBC mistaken identity broadcast

In 2004, Guy Goma, a 37-year-old job applicant, accidentally appeared on a live BBC News broadcast. Goma had arrived at the BBC offices in West London to interview for an IT position. A production error led staff to mistake him for Guy Kewney, a technology expert scheduled to discuss a legal case between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps. After being ushered into the studio and prepared with makeup, Goma was introduced to host Karen Bowerman as an expert. Despite his initial shock upon realizing the error, Goma answered questions regarding the music industry and online downloads. The incident became a widely recognized moment in television history. Goma later stated he remained calm to manage the unexpected situation. The event marks its 20th anniversary this year.