BBC mistake cabbie for IT expert in interview

Literally. Unless it Should Go Elsewhere
EvaUnit02
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BBC mistake cabbie for IT expert in interview

Post by EvaUnit02 »

This is quite funny. A cabbie was mistaken for IT Guy Kewney and was pulled in for an interview on the results of the Beatles' Apple Corporation vs Apple Computers lawsuit.

Download the interview here (right-click>save link as).

Kewney's blog entry on incident here.
source wrote:A computer expert has described his astonishment at seeing the BBC's 24-hour news channel interview supposed taxi driver Guy Goma in the mistaken belief it was him.

Guy Kewney - a white, bearded technology expert - was astonished to see himself appear on screen as a black man with an apparent French accent. He was even more shocked to see himself unable to answer basic questions about the legal battle between the Beatles' Apple Corps and Apple Computer over the use of an apple symbol.

Mr Kewney, an IT journalist, watched as Mr Goma, whose identity remained a mystery until it was revealed on Monday night by the BBC, gamely attempted to answer questions fired at him by BBC consumer affairs correspondent Karen Bowerman.

Mr Goma, a graduate from the Congo, described his surprise interview ordeal as "very stressful". He found himself being ushered into a studio and fitted with a microphone after raising his hand when a producer called out the name Guy Kewney.

On his website, the real Mr Kewney, said that the man "seemed as baffled as I felt" when asked about the consequences of the lawsuit live on BBC News 24.

It is unclear why Mr Goma identified himself when Mr Kewney's named was called.

Only when Ms Bowerman announced live on air the name and title of the man who should have been there and asked the first question did the driver realise there had been a mix-up.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately we did make a mistake and the wrong person was interviewed briefly on air before we cut to our reporter.

"We apologise to viewers for any confusion."

Read the transcript of the interview below...

The interview

Karen Bowerman: Guy Kewney is editor of the technology website Newswireless.

Face of horror

KB: Hello, good morning to you.

Mr Goma: Good morning.

KB: Were you surprised by this verdict today.

Mr Goma: I am very surprised to see... this verdict to come on me because I was not expecting that. When I came they told me somehting else and I am coming. So a big surprise anyway.

KB: A big surprise, yeah, yes.

Mr Goma: Exactly.

KB: With regards to the costs involved do you think now more people will be downloading online?

Mr Goma: Actually If you can walk everywhere you are going to see a lot of people downloading the internet and the website and everything they want. But I think eh It is much better for development and eh to inform people what they want and to get the easy way and so faster if they are looking for.

KB: It does really seem the way the music industry's progressing now that people want to go onto the website and download music.

Mr Goma: Exactly you can go everywhere on the cyber cafe and you can take, you can go easy. It is going to be an easy way for everyone to get something to the internet

KB: Thank you. Thanks very much indeed.
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grim_tales
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Post by grim_tales »

I don't think he actually was a taxi driver. Its' been said on Ceefax that the newspapers/press over here identifying him as such was wrong and he was really at the BBC for a job interview.
I didnt hear the actual interview - but I heard the news story afterwards. Would of been quite funny. :D
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thelostdragon
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Post by thelostdragon »

LOOOOL! Awesome.
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BiscLimpkit
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Post by BiscLimpkit »

Aye, I heard this on the radio. The newsreader pished himself at some live interview gone wrong. Now I ken fit they're on aboot and it's quite unclass min. Cheers for the clip Eva. :D
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