Vicky Pattison investigates romance fraud, exploring extreme cases of love bombing, lies and psychological manipulation. Victims share their stories and experts discuss how we, as a society, can affect change.
Series 4. WifeHunter
Uncovering one the UK’s most prolific Lovebombers, Raymond McDonald. Despite a court ban he is still on dating apps and talking to women. One of them is us.
Previously on Love Bombed:
Series 3. Love Bombed Presents...Betrayed
Vicky Pattison explores double lives, mental trickery, manipulation and love.
Series 2. Who is Alex?
A story of survival after a woman nearly lost her money and sense of self to an online fraudster.
Series 1. Who is James Scott?
The incredible double life of a serial cheater and his true identity.
Have you been love bombed? Tell us your story at lovebombed@bbc.co.uk (mailto:lovebombed@bbc.co.uk).
Credits: Series 4. WifeHunter
Presented by Vicky Pattison.
Writer and Producer: Jane Downs and Barney Rowntree.
Investigative reporter: Philippa Goymer.
Story Consultant: Barney Rowntree.
Sound designer: Kasel Kundola.
Online Producer: Rachael Smith.
Executive Producer: Dan Farthing (BBC Investigations NE & Cumbria).
Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.
Lovebombed was made at BBC Radio Newcastle for BBC Sounds.
Visit bbc.co.uk/actionline for help and support on issues raised in this series.
Vicky Pattison wonders what it would take to stop Ray MacDonald offending, after his seven jail sentences imposed to-date, across two decades.
Vicky looks at the court system and its limitations, laws surrounding dating apps and asks whether there’s anything that could prevent Ray from pursuing the women he targets.
Love Bombed: WifeHunter presented by Vicky Pattison.
Writer and Producer: Jane Downs and Barney Rowntree.
Investigative reporter: Philippa Goymer.
Story Consultant: Barney Rowntree.
Sound designer: Kasel Kundola.
Online Producer: Rachael Smith.
Executive Producer: Dan Farthing (BBC Investigations NE & Cumbria).
Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.
Lovebombed was made at BBC Radio Newcastle for BBC Sounds.
Visit bbc.co.uk/actionline for help and support on issues raised in this series.
13 Mar 2026
5. Waiting for answers
Ray McDonald agrees to an interview after being rumbled using dating apps under a false name.
Meanwhile, Vicky catches up with some of the women whose lives have been turned upside down by Ray and discovers why it’s so hard for victims of romance fraud to rebuild their lives.
Love Bombed: WifeHunter presented by Vicky Pattison.
Writer and Producer: Jane Downs and Barney Rowntree.
Investigative reporter: Philippa Goymer.
Story Consultant: Barney Rowntree.
Sound designer: Kasel Kundola.
Online Producer: Rachael Smith.
Executive Producer: Dan Farthing (BBC Investigations NE & Cumbria).
Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.
Lovebombed was made at BBC Radio Newcastle for BBC Sounds.
Visit bbc.co.uk/actionline for help and support on issues raised in this series.
6 Mar 2026
4. A date with Ray
Ray McDonald is out of prison. He’s already broken his restraining order banning him from dating apps and is on a website posing as “Rob from York”.
Vicky’s production team arrange a date with his latest alter ego.
They witness first-hand the tried and tested love bombing techniques that Ray has used for years before finally confronting him.
Love Bombed: WifeHunter presented by Vicky Pattison.
Writer and Producer: Jane Downs and Barney Rowntree.
Investigative reporter: Philippa Goymer.
Story Consultant: Barney Rowntree.
Sound designer: Kasel Kundola.
Online Producer: Rachael Smith.
Executive Producer: Dan Farthing (BBC Investigations NE & Cumbria).
Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.
Lovebombed was made at BBC Radio Newcastle for BBC Sounds.
Visit bbc.co.uk/actionline for help and support on issues raised in this series.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.1 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
535 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
54
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
95
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