Lucas North, formerly known as John Bateman, is a fictional character from the BBC espionage television series Spooks (known in the United States as "MI5"), which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5.

The character is introduced in Spooks' seventh series as the former head of Section D, who was captured and imprisoned during an operation in Russia.

After agreeing to appear in Spooks, Armitage learned how to speak fluent Russian and lost a stone in weight in order to fit the description of his character.

Born John Bateman,[2] the character later known as Lucas North was raised in rural Cumbria, where his father was a Methodist minister.

[2] He would later join MI5 in place of the real Lucas North[2] and become head of Section D. He was also once married to Elizabeta Starkova (Paloma Baeza).

[7][8] In the seventh series, Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) is able to secure Lucas' release from prison in exchange for a Russian spy imprisoned in the UK.

However, Arkady Kachimov (Stuart Wilson) coerces Lucas to work against MI5, to assist Russia in launching a cyber attack against the UK.

[9] In the season finale, Section D learns that operation "Tiresias", the Russian equivalent of Sugar Horse, is going to detonate a nuclear bomb in London.

Lucas and Ros Myers (Hermione Norris) save Connie from the authorities in order to enlist her help in stopping the attack.

[8] During the same series, Lucas conducts an affair with CIA liaison Sarah Caufield (Genevieve O'Reilly),[11] who is later revealed to be an operative of "Nightingale", a multinational shadow organisation bent on a New World Order.

[12] She returns in the series eight finale, and before she is assassinated, she reveals that Nightingale is attempting to provoke a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

In the end, Lucas and Ros go to a hotel rigged to explode, set up by Nightingale, to save Pakistan President Mudasser and Home Secretary Andrew Lawrence before the building explodes; Lucas rescues Mudasser, who calls off the impending war, but Ros is killed in the explosion before she can get Lawrence to safety.

Vaughn forces Lucas to find the file, which is in the possession of former Section D member Malcolm Wynn-Jones (Hugh Simon).

Believing Harry may not honour the deal they have worked out, Lucas intends to leave the country[2] after getting his hands on the Albany file.

After Lucas acquires the real file from Harry in exchange for team member Ruth Evershed, whom he has kidnapped, Maya is killed while he is trying to escape with her.

Following his release from prison, glimpses of him adjusting to the outside world—such as a scene in episode two in which Lucas lies on the floor rather than in a bed in order to sleep—reveal to the audience how much he is struggling, though he keeps it hidden from his teammates.

"[24] The character of Lucas North and his background was first revealed in March 2008, shortly after filming the seventh series began.

The producers focused on Richard Armitage early into the casting suggestions, because they felt he could carry the mystery of Lucas North.

[28] The producers approached Armitage in November 2007, following the completion of the second series of Robin Hood, for which he played the regular part of Sir Guy of Gisbourne.

[19] To research for his role, Armitage read novels from authors including John le Carré, Frederick Forsyth and Robert Ludlum.

[34] Armitage was also one of only two actors, along with Hermione Norris, who plays Ros Myers, who went to Moscow, Russia in the series' first overseas shoot in August 2008.

[30][35] When questioned regarding Spooks's notoriety of killing off main characters, and the chances of Lucas meeting his demise, Armitage stated; To be honest I haven't thought about it too much.

However, after the sequence was shot, Armitage changed his opinion entirely, stating; "I only lasted five to ten seconds, and the sound of my voice crying out to stop isn't me acting.

[43] Spooks producer Katie Swinden described Armitage's addition as "fantastic", as he "has that dark and brooding quality which make him perfect for the role.

"[26] Co-star Hermione Norris thought Lucas was a "really fantastic character" and has brought "a completely different vibe and quality" to the series.

[32] John Beresford of TV Scoop thought the acting of the cast in the beginning of the seventh series, including Armitage's was "pitch perfect", and noted he "looks and sounds like he's been here all along, already, and having only seen him briefly in Robin Hood I've been quite astonished by how good he is in this.

[18] The Bromsgrove Advertiser noted that Armitage "certainly has the looks needed for the part" with "classic leading man presence," and while comparing past main actors of the series, Matthew Macfadyen and Rupert Penry-Jones, the author believed that "the eye candy quota is being kept high.

"[29] Leigh Holmwood of The Guardian reacted positively towards the introduction of Lucas after Adam's departure, believing the change has "more than made amends.

"[48] Catherine Gee of The Daily Telegraph reflected on the "dramatically provided" twist, stated "just as we were finally beginning to trust him.

"[49] Vicky Frost of The Guardian stated that Spooks was "looking a bit lacklustre," but now "seems to have raised its game" because of several developments for series nine, including the closing scenes involving Lucas and Vaughn, and his relationship with Dimitri Levendis.