Using the info in the FAQ for searching and using one of the examples given

get_iplayer "east"

It returns: INFO: 6899 matching programmes
the first part of the output being

D:\get_iplayer>Get_iplayer ''east''
get_iplayer 3.07.0, Copyright (C) 2008-2010 Phil Lewis
 This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details use --warranty.
 This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain
 conditions; use --conditions for details.

Matches:
1:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 7, S4C, p05lx3f0
2:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 8, S4C, p05mdnh2
3:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 9, S4C, p05mmt8q
4:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 11, S4C, p05n35k9
5:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 12, S4C, p05nb2rs
6:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 13, S4C, p05nv3xn
7:      04 Wal: Cyfres 6 - Pennod 15, S4C, p05pgn9z

I cannot work out what i am doing wrong , it is an example given in the faq , but the result is not as per the info in the faq.

You probably stored a wildcard search in your preferences, which you shouldn't do.

My prefs are as follows

D:\get_iplayer>get_iplayer --prefs-show
Options in 'C:\Users\gary\.get_iplayer\options'
fileprefix = <name> - <episode>
search =
whitespace = 1
output = d:\get_iplayer
nopurge = 1
refreshexcludegroupstv = local


Is there anywhere else i could have stored a wildcard search ????

Empty search arg in prefs has same effect. You shouldn't do that, either.