Richard Armitage : TV career

2001, Doctors, BBC, Dr Tom Steele.

Richard Armitage's first named TV role was a careless locum in two episodes of the BBC's daily medical soap.

2001, Casualty, BBC, Craig.

This was another medical drama, but this time his role was as the boyfriend of the one of the doctors, Lara Stone. He appeared in a single episode.

2002, Sparkhouse, BBC, John Standring.

Richard Armitage's first major role on TV was as a shy farmhand in this three part contemporary drama inspired by Wuthering Heights.

2003, Cold Feet (series 5), ITV, Lee Richards.

Richard Armitage had a recurring role in the final series of the popular award-winning comedy drama. He played a good-looking lifeguard with an eye for the ladies.

2003, Ultimate Force (series 2), ITV, Capt. Ian Macalwain.

Another recurring role, this time as an unpopular officer in an SAS troop in a drama series starring Ross Kemp.

2003, Between the Sheets, ITV, Paul Andrews.

This six part drama that looked frankly at sexual relationships starred Alun Armstrong and Brenda Blethyn. Richard Armitage played a probation officer under suspicion of having slept with an underage client.

2004, North and South, BBC, John Thornton.

Richard Armitage's portrayal of a 19th century cotton millowner was his first leading role on television - his breakthrough role. He starred opposite Daniela Denby-Ashe in a much-admired adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel.

2005, Malice Aforethought, ITV, Bill Chatford.

This was a supporting role in an adaptation of Francis Iles' 1931 murder mystery novel.

2005, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, BBC, Philip Turner.

Richard Armitage played a suspect in a murder investigation in one episode of the drama series starring Nathaniel Parker.

2005, The Golden Hour, ITV, Dr Alec Track.

This was Richard Armitage's second leading role, as the head of a team of doctors in a helicopter emergency medical service based in London.

2005, Macbeth, BBC, Peter Macduff.

The BBC's Shakespeare Retold series set the story of Macbeth in the kitchen of a modern-day Michelin-starred restaurant.

2006, The Impressionists, BBC, Young Monet.

Richard Armitage played Claude Monet up to the age of 50 in a three part drama that told the story of the painters of the Impressionist movement. Julian Glover played the older Monet.

2006, Robin Hood series 1, BBC, Sir Guy of Gisborne.

The role of the Sheriff of Nottingham's evil henchman in the BBC's major 13 part Saturday evening drama series brought Richard Armitage to the attention of a much wider audience.

2006, CBeebies stories, BBC.

Richard Armitage was invited to read five bedtime stories on the BBC's TV channel for young children.

2006, The Vicar of Dibley, BBC, Harry Kennedy.

Richard Armitage played Dawn French's dream man in the last two episodes of the long-running comedy series about a female vicar in an English country village.

2007, George Gently, BBC, Ricky Deeming.

Richard Armitage played a Geordie biker in a drama based on one of Alan Hunter's 1960's detective novels. His character was a suspect in a murder investigation.

2007, Miss Marie Lloyd - Queen of the Music Hall, BBC, Percy Courtenay.

Richard Armitage played music hall star Marie Lloyd's first husband in a BBC Four drama about her life.

2007, Miss Marple "Ordeal by Innocence", ITV, Philip Durrant.

This adapatation of an Agatha Christie novel was first broadcast in Canada in June and later in the USA and the UK. Yet again, Richard Armitage played a suspect in a murder case.

2007, Empire's Children, Channel 4, narrator.

In July 2007, Richard Armitage narrated this series about the British Empire and the people who lived in it.

2007, Robin Hood series 2, BBC, Sir Guy of Gisborne.

In October 2007, Richard Armitage returned to the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham's henchman for the second series of Robin Hood.

2008, Spooks series 7, BBC, Lucas North

Richard Armitage joins the cast of the popular spy series Spooks for its seventh series, playing the role of an MI5 officer. It will be broadcast in autumn 2008.