When Fancourt retired at the end of the 1952–53 season, Adams became the company's principal bass-baritone, regularly playing Dick Deadeye in "H.M.S. Pinafore", the Pirate King, Colonel Calverley, the Earl of Mountararat, the Mikado of Japan, Sir Roderic in "Ruddigore", Sergeant Meryll in "The Yeomen of the Guard", and Arac in "Princess Ida" (when that opera was revived in 1954). From 1961 to 1963, he also played Sergeant Bouncer in "Cox and Box". Although he had admired Fancourt, when he took over the roles, Adams asked Bridget D'Oyly Carte if he could create his own characterisations, which she agreed to, saying she would tell him if he overstepped the mark. Adams continued as the principal bass-baritone of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company until 1969. In 1952 he married D'Oyly Carte soprano Muriel Harding (1920–90).