they may know someone who has tickets going spare, or it may be that they are going to be production guests.

i went to "top gear of the pops" the comic releif one (BBC decided to do it last minute and i was on their mailing list so managed to get tickets), and the audience blokey when i was at TG said there is a 3 year waiting list. dunno if he was telling truth.

i have never got them thru applause store, despite applying on numerous occasions.

people i know who have been to normal TG episodes have always got them from people who had them going spare.