The year is…Well, it’s a bit ambiguous, but probably somewhere between the 1890s and the mid-20th century. The place – Norfolk. There’s a Christmas mystery to be solved, and you may very well be the person who holds the key to unravelling the whole thing. The Case of the St Stephen’s Secrets is afoot – or rather it will be, from 10am tomorrow. As for what those secrets may be and who’s hiding them, that, of course is for you to try and find out. 

Following its great success last year, BBC Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Quest has another Boxing Day special coming up as part of the station’s raft of festive programming. In 2021 Boxing Day fell on a Sunday so it was part of the usual run of Treasure Quest’s transmission. The show usually runs every weekend, with clues hidden around a different area of the county each week. The listeners at home then phone and message in to help solve those clues and work out where the radio car presenter needs to head next. 

But last year’s Boxing Day special was a very different type of programme. As well as still having clues leading from place-to-place, there was also a mystery about a stolen diamond to solve as an overarching plot across the show.

There were leads to be gleaned from mocked-up 20s newspaper cuttings, telegrams, ‘British Broadcasting Company’ news bulletins, and witness statements recorded by a full cast of characters from a traditional country house mystery.

Each clue was found and earned by the radio car team as they made their way from location to location as directed by the listeners. But this hunt through a real world of steam locomotives and red telephone boxes didn’t just rely on the audience cracking the clues and working out where the next location was – they also had to piece together the mystery from the evidence available, and decide who they thought ‘dunnit’ to solve the fictional jewel heist. 

Eastern Daily Press:

“Treasure Quest brings so much joy and happiness to so many people for just a few hours every week,” says Mark Willeard, a big fan of the programme who regularly joins in with the clue-solving on the programme’s Facebook group. Mark was one of those who felt that last year’s special represented a particular high point. 

“The attention to detail was awesome,” he enthuses. “The little intros after the news breaks, and the music as well… All the different characters… Everything just came together brilliantly. I really felt that we were embroiled in this real-life mystery which was just superb from start to finish. It must have taken ages to put together. I could never have believed that Treasure Quest could be made even better, I mean how do you make perfection more perfect? But Boxing Day was just brilliant.” 

Mark’s comments were just one example of the hugely positive feedback BBC Radio Norfolk received. So, this year it’s back – but, hopefully, bigger and better than before. There is another mystery to solve, and locations filled with the vintage trappings of that generic, oh-so-Christmassy world of those classic detectives of yore.

However, unlike a sumptuous period crime drama on the TV over Christmas, where they can’t hear you as you shout your theories from the sofa, this is a fully interactive detective story which you can join in with. In fact, it relies upon audience interaction – the story will only move forward, and the mystery will only be solved, if those listening who think they’ve worked out what’s happening get in touch and share their theories with the on-air team. 

The regular Treasure Quest presenting duo of studio host Sophie Little and radio car clue-hunter Julie Reinger were also very taken with last year’s special – which was sprung on them as a surprise that morning. Neither of them had any idea that the programme was going to be any different to a usual quest, until the first introduction was played and the basis of the mystery to be solved was outlined. 

“What a fun thing to do on Boxing Day!” Sophie recalls. “Of course we have to thank everybody who cracked the mystery. If it had been up to me and Jules we’d have still been stuck at the starting point!” 

Eastern Daily Press:

For Julie Reinger, all the little period touches and vintage locations present in the programme really did make her feel as if she had been taken back to another era. 

“I just had a moment when the opening music was playing at the start of the second hour, and I was running down the engine shed at the North Norfolk Railway at Weybourne, past the steam locomotives, and I felt like I’d been transported back to the 1920s. If only I’d had a long flowy dress on rather than a puffer jacket!” 

As for the parts Sophie and Julie will be playing this year, and the mystery needing to be solved? Well, of course, all of that must remain under wraps for now. But the idea is the same – a kind of giant family board game which everyone can join in with, using the entire county as the board and the radio car as the piece you have to move around it. But there certainly will be some surprises and extra challenges along the way, and as always they’ll get nowhere without the audience at home hopefully phoning and messaging in to hopefully crack the clues and ultimately solve the mystery itself. 

It’s not only in solving the clues that the listeners play an important part. As is often the case with Treasure Quest, some of those holding the clues will also be fans of the programme, giving up their time to make it all work.

Last year, Julie Reinger was particularly moved when she learned that two fans had gone and specially cleaned their local red telephone box in North Walsham for her, so it was in a slightly nicer condition when she had to find it and the answer the ringing call inside.

“That, for me, just highlights what incredible listeners and people who take part in the show we have!” says Julie. “That is above and beyond, isn’t it?”  

It's not, however, purely about those who take part by helping solve the clues or by kindly interrupting their Boxing Day by being clue-holders for the programme. It’s also about providing something special to those who simply listen – especially those living on their own who enjoy the comfort and the sense of community which a programme like Treasure Quest can bring. 

So, whoever and wherever you are, we cordially invite you to join us for the fun and games on Boxing Day morning. Who knows? You might even be the one person able to see through the mystery and crack the case! 

Treasure Quest: The Case of the St Stephen’s Secrets is live on BBC Radio Norfolk on Boxing Day, from 10am to 1pm