After months of speculation and hundreds of listener guesses, the much-talked-about Secret Sound competition on DevonAir Radio has finally come to an end.
The competition, which has been running since July, had listeners across Devon completely stumped as they tried to identify the mystery sound for a chance to win £1,000. Breakfast presenter Ben Clark received an unprecedented number of entries, with listener enthusiasm so high that the station increased participation to two contestants every morning.
Ben Clark said that in all his years in radio he had never worked at a station that had generated such a huge response to a competition, adding that the volume of entries meant the Secret Sound had to be played and run twice a day.
The mystery was finally revealed as the sound of a headphone or jack plug being plugged in and then removed, a simple action that nevertheless kept listeners guessing for months.
As the competition continued into the festive season, DevonAir Radio made the decision to turn the Secret Sound into a Christmas gift for its listeners. The station revealed the sound and, following requests from many listeners, chose to donate the £1,000 prize money to charity.
On Tuesday (23rd December 2025), Ben Clark, alongside competition sponsor Lovells Garage, officially presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Children’s Bramble Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The donation was warmly received by hospital staff and will go towards supporting children and families receiving care on the ward, bringing a heartfelt conclusion to one of DevonAir Radio’s most popular competitions to date.
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