DevonAir Radio has revealed its long-running Secret Sound and donated the £1,000 prize to a children’s hospital ward in Exeter.
The station’s Secret Sound competition, which began in July, became a daily talking point for listeners across Devon, with hundreds of guesses submitted as people tried to identify a mystery noise for the chance to win the cash prize.
The response was so strong that the game expanded to include two contestants each weekday morning.
Breakfast presenter Ben Clark said the scale of listener engagement was unlike anything he had previously experienced, explaining that the sheer number of entries led to the sound being played twice a day to keep up with demand.
He said, “I’ve never known a competition create so much interest, with people calling, messaging and debating it constantly.”
After months of speculation, the sound was finally revealed as a headphone or jack plug being inserted and then removed. While simple, it proved difficult to identify, keeping the competition running well into the festive period.
As Christmas approached, DevonAir Radio decided to conclude the competition in a different way. Following feedback from listeners, the station chose to reveal the sound and donate the £1,000 prize money to charity rather than award it to a single winner.
Ben visited the Children’s Bramble Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital alongside competition sponsor Lovells Garage to present the cheque. The money will be used to support children and families receiving care on the ward.
The donation brought the competition to a close, ending one of the station’s most talked-about on-air features with a community-focused outcome that reflected the wishes of many listeners.