Kiefer Sutherland has reportedly suggested that 24 could survive without his character Jack Bauer.

The 42-year-old told The Sun: “All of us, for the actors to the writers, understood from day one we are not, and never will be, the heartbeat of the show – if you look at the major characters to have died over the years you know you can be killed off, and the show will get better without you.”

But Kiefer admitted he wouldn’t want Jack to be killed off: “When I go, I’ll be going kicking and screaming.”

He added: “The real star of 24 has always been the concept of doing this show in ‘real time’.”