Kiefer Sutherland: TV is an exciting place for actors

The new series of 24 is based in London and sees Kiefer Sutherland's character on the run in the capital

Star of 24 Kiefer Sutherland has said TV is "an exciting place for actors".

Talking at the London premiere of the show's latest series, 24: Live Another Day, he said: "It [TV] presents itself as a huge opportunity."

24 is now in its ninth series and the 47-year-old, who plays former CTU agent Jack Bauer, said longevity helps.

He added: "Unlike a film or starting a brand new show, this has a history to it so you know the audience is going to be there on some level."

Sutherland added: "I think television is changing so dramatically.

"It's really the most interesting medium in my business right now. The delivery devices are changing, the audience has been fragmented yet has gotten bigger."

According to Fox, the US premiere of 24: Live Another Day attracted 8.1m viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.

Jon Cassar says the series' name also helps Live Another Day feel more like an event for the audience

However, there has been a rise in online piracy of TV shows with the final episode of the third series of Games of Thrones being named the most pirated TV show ever last year.

But 24's director and executive producer Jon Cassar said TV events and "clever shows" like The Wire and Lost have helped keep and attract television audiences.

"You can tell a deeper story with the amount of hours you have as apposed to an hour and a half," he added.

"Feature films are becoming more popcorn because it's just more effects and less story."

Cassar also said TV events like 24 and Game Of Thrones are starting to rival Hollywood blockbusters, not only for the audience but the cast and crew.

"By our cast it's not hard to see that we're in competition or at least as good as some of the features that are going out there."

James Bond actor Colin Salmon (left) and John Boyega who will feature in Star Wars Episode VII appear in 24

24 has picked up several Golden Globe and Emmy Awards since launching in 2001, but Cassar added there are other perks to appearing on TV.

"From just a work point of view it's great for an actor to get a regular job.

"So when people started to float over to television other actors are going 'Hey that's not a bad gig'."

Giles Matthey plays Jordan Reed, a CIA computer technology expert, in 24: Live Another Day

Despite other cast members describing being part of 24 as, "very exiting" and "surreal", Giles Matthey says appearing in such a successful show for the first time has been daunting.

He said: "A relative newcomer there's a different essence to the fact that this show has been around for a long time and the fan base is phenomenal. There is a lot of pressure."

The actor, who has appeared in True Blood and several independent films added: "The worldwide fan base is not there for those smaller films however, they give you the chance to stretch your legs as an actor.

"A show like 24 is written so sharply, you need to know exactly what you're doing at that exact time," he said.

24: Live Another Day will premiere on Sky 1 with a double episode on Wednesday 7 May at 21:00 BST

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