Kiefer Sutherland just IS Jack Bauer to 24 fans (Picture: AP)

24 is undeniably a massive hit with TV audiences – we still adore the show even after so many seasons.

Now, with the London-based ninth series available on home cinema release, it’s time to look a little closer at just what it is about 24 that makes fans come back for more, time and time again.

Here are 24 reasons to love 24:

1. Jack Bauer


There’s just no way the show would have lasted as long as it has, were it not for Kiefer Sutherland and the now infamous character he plays with such skill.

2. Nobody is safe

You know those shows where you rest easy in the knowledge that your hero/heroine is going to be fine – this isn’t that!



It doesn’t matter if you’re brave and noble or the leader of the free world – when your time is up, it’s up.

There’s no playing favourites here.

3. The script

To keep audiences riveted over 24 episodes is no easy task but somehow the insanely complex scripts seem to manage it time and time again.

4. Its staying power

Long may it continue.

5. The backstabbing

You’d be forgiven for having trust issues after watching this show.

After all, it’s happened quite often – someone we thought we could trust actually turns out to be the mole sending secrets out to the terrorists.

You just can’t get the staff these days.

6. The villains

It would be pretty easy (and lazy) to create some bad guys who just wanted death and destruction but the scriptwriters of 24 always seem to give them actual backstories, real motivations.

They still want the death and destruction of course but at least we care a bit about why.

7. The blurred lines

There are ‘good’ characters who we hate and ‘bad’ characters we adore and that’s just how we like it.

It’s all grey.

8. Job equality

(L to R) Benjamin Bratt, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Yvonne Strahovski, Kiefer Sutherland, Kim Raver, William Devane and Tate Donovan make an exciting team (Picture: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic)

This is not a show led by men while the women sit around wondering what to do.

24 has brought some incredible women to the small screen – some good, some bad but all brilliant to watch.

9. The tension

Just don’t forget to breathe. Use the clock if you have to.

10. Familiar faces

Just when you think you’ve got used to the new CTU bunch, up crops an old familiar face to say hi again.

Daytime TV must have become too much for them.

11. New faces

Yvonne Strahovski injected new blood into the most recent 24 series as the bold Kate Morgan (Picture: Getty)

Though some characters remain, a new series usually brings with it a whole collection of newbies to keep things new and interesting.

The most recent series saw Kate Morgan (Yvonne Strahovski) become something of a female version of Jack and it made for fantastic TV.

She is emotional, she is bold and she does what she thinks needs doing rather than what she’s been told.

We love her.

12. The tears

Jack’s, ours, it doesn’t matter.



13. Jack saying ‘dammit’

A lot.

14. The geeks are just as important

And are often forced to do their thing out in the field too.

15. The CTU ringtone

Come on, you know it was your message alert at some point.

It makes you go all funny inside when you hear it, doesn’t it. Own up.

16. The ticking clock

It ramps up the tension but you can also enjoy trying to guess what time it’ll be when it pops back up again – more of a challenge when you’re watching it on DVD or Netflix!

It’s making you nervous right now, isn’t it, just looking at it.

17. The many imaginative ways Jack thinks up to kill people

Well he doesn’t want the day job to become monotonous now, does he?

18. The twists

Every time you think you’ve figured it out, there’s some new piece of information to contend with.

Just try to keep up!

19. The mood swings

Most of the characters spend so much of their time focusing on the job in hand (or trying to at least) that every now and then a hint of their true feelings comes bursting out.

When it does, it’s always spectacular.

Then, of course, it’s back to work.

20. The picture in picture

With so many storylines all happening at the same time, you’ve got to really pay attention.

So when the different stories are all minimised and you get four or five different shots on your screen all at once, the excitement levels reach high alert.


21. Let’s get political

OK so the show might not have everyone running for office but getting so up close and personal with presidents and world leaders certainly has viewers getting invested in the decision making process and the many policies that cross their desks.

It also gives us an idea (albeit a fictional one) of the kind of person we want leading us and surely that can only be a good thing.

Right?

22. The super human characters

They never eat, pee or sleep. For 24 hours.

Seriously, have you tried it?

23. Rule breaking



Imagine if Bauer did as he was told. How very dull the show would be.

He doesn’t play by the rules but he’s so good at being bad and doing what he isn’t supposed to that we just love him for it.

24. You never actually know what will become of Jack Bauer

The show tends to get an idea for a new series and run with it, with little view (outwardly at least) to whether it will continue.

So each series brings the question ‘will this be the end for Jack Bauer’?

And we’re not talking faking it Mr Bauer. We know how good you are at doing that.