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Google Android - and "The Guy Goma saga" continues: "Reunion with Karen!"

Google's Android phone stack is the subject of a BBC TV programme, "Click" next weekend, and they are planning to inflict a couple of minutes of my thoughts as part of the clip. What you won't see on Saturday's "Click" next weekend, however, was a small sub-chapter in the Guy Goma saga.

Fans of the expert improvisor, Goma, will recall that he was snatched from the BBC TV reception in May 2006 - and plonked in the hot seat on the BBC News 24 channel to answer topical questions about Apple Computer's law case against Apple Corps (Beatles) - and was interviewed by the business news presenter, Karen Bowerman [picture above]. And you should probably realise that her name is pronounced "Car En" with a long first syllable, rather than the more usual way.

After it became apparent that this version of "Guy Kewney" had skipped his homework on the assignment, Karen switched to a reporter outside the Appeal Court, Goma went home, baffled by the BBC's odd employee-induction techniques, and I stomped grumpily off and blogged the incident

A media tsunami then occurred... And shortly after that, several people associated with BBC News 24 decided to pursue their careers elsewhere.

Time went by. I did the odd piece for the BBC, but nothing (to this day!) for BBC News 24. Weird, eh...?

Then, Friday afternoon last week, I strolled into the BBC TV centre again, to do my bit for "Click" and bumped into several old friends, including presenter Spencer Kelly, researcher Chris Long, and my interviewer, Dan Simmons. Much to my surprise, however, none of them said: "Hi Guy!" in the normal way. Instead, there arose a spontaneous chorus: "Oh, Karen!" from the entire BBC World contingent in the open plan room.

And there, still looking immaculate and cool as ever, was Karen Bowerman. As great reunions go, it was kinda low-key, I suppose. Still, it was good to see her still gainfully employed in a high-profile meeja position with Auntie Beeb; and even better to see that she didn't pull out her pepper spray and flatten me...

As a result of our meeting, I can tell you two interesting details. First, young women these days wear smocks, because this is a cute and neat fashionable style today; and not because they're pregnant. And second, old farts like me should keep their big mouths shut, even if "so... are you pregnant, then?" seems like an obvious way to keep the conversation moving...

For details about Click see the web site here.

For a transcript of Guy Goma's original interview, see here

And if you truly haven't seen his interview live, just go to YouTube.