Adam Henry Carter[5] is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks, which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5.

The character is a former MI6 officer who takes charge as the chief of Section D, and hence the head protagonist following the departure of Tom Quinn in series three.

Adam Carter was created with the knowledge that Matthew Macfadyen, who played Tom Quinn, would leave the series.

Oliver Mace (Tim McInnerny), chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, describes Carter as a "loose cannon".

[1] Adam first appears in the series three opening episode "Project Friendly Fire", hired by head of Section D Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) to help clear Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen) who has been framed for the assassination of the Chief of the Defence Staff.

In the series four episode "Syria", Adam learns that Farook had faked his own death; he is in England, where he kidnaps Fiona during an operation of hers.

But after another panic attack, he is able to pull through, save fellow officer Ros Myers (Hermione Norris), and escape from the Thames Barrier before they both drown.

It is later revealed that the man was no journalist; Adam was set up, to prevent his stopping a deal that would have allowed Iran to become a nuclear power.

[20] He has a brief affair with Ros,[19] and later fakes her death to protect her from CIA retaliation after it is exposed that she has worked with the anti-American shadow organisation Yalta.

[21] In the series six finale, Jo is kidnapped by the Redbacks, the group that tortured Zafar Younis; Adam was revealed to be the ultimate target after being betrayed by Bob Hogan in the CIA.

In the first episode of the seventh series, Adam works with officer Lucas North (Richard Armitage), newly returned from imprisonment in Russia, to rescue a kidnapped British soldier in London.

[23] The producers were aware that Matthew Macfadyen would leave the series after playing Tom Quinn for two years, and they did not know whether he would return for the first two episodes.

He did not take long to decide, since his last leading role was four years previously, in 2000 in the Channel 4 drama North Square.

I read the blogs, for my sins, and they weren't happy about it.Rupert Penry-Jones noted that the initial fan reaction towards Adam Carter was negative, "because Matthew [Macfadyen] was so successful and loved."

"[34] In the "best of drama" viewer polls at BBC Online, Penry-Jones was voted third in the "Best Actor" category, beating co-stars Matthew Macfadyen, who was fifth, David Oyelowo, who was seventh, and Peter Firth, who was tenth.

"[38] In the fifth series, Mackenzie felt more open towards Adam, stating Adam Carter "isn't exactly James Bond [...] he doesn't jet around the world, bedding multiple women and engaging in fisticuffs atop precarious construction rigs, but he does rush around London with a gun in his hand and occasionally ends up on the receiving end of the odd beating.

[42] The Radio Times stated the shock factor of his death was "spectacular" and said that "driving a primed car bomb to a safe place is so run-of-the-mill for the spooks they wouldn't normally break a sweat.

[43] Me-Me-Me.tv has said that Adam's death was "bound to happen" and stated "just when we've formed a deep, meaningful and totally healthy relationship with the lead gentleman [...] they go and blow him up", adding "It's just not fair.

"[44] The Times's Hilary Rose noted that fans will remember Adam's "dramatic exit", and said that "the nation's women duly went into mourning", regarding that "pretty much every woman with a pulse seems to fancy Rupert."