Start the clock, the return of everyone’s favourite CTU agent, Jack Bauer is almost on us. 

The Fox Network has confirmed that the 12-part, London set series will return, Stateside at least, on May 5th. Although not definite yet, a UK broadcast on Sky is all but guaranteed a few days later.

They’ve also announced that CHUCK and DEXTER star Yvonne Strahovski (above) will be joining the cast as Kate Morgan, a London based CIA operative. Besides Kiefer Sutherland, she’ll be joined by returning stars Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe O’Brian), Kim Raver (Audrey Raines) and William Devane (James Heller). Other previously announced new additions to the rapidly growing cast include Michael Wincott and Judy Davis.

Executive producer Manny Coto told E! Online that the show will pick up four years after the climax of season eight, which saw Bauer on the run after spectacularly taking the law into his own hands in typically bloody style.

“If you remember at the end of season eight, Jack was left fugitive and we’ll pick four years later and he’s still a fugitive. He is hunted and he is still hunted when the show begins.”

The rest of the London based plot is still tightly under wraps. Considering previous seasons have included nuclear bombs, biological weapons, presidential assassinations, more nuclear bombs, numerous large explosions, EMPs, dirty bombs, chemical weapons, copious amounts of torture, even more nuclear bombs and the late, great Dennis Hopper, chances are that the city’s in for a rough time.

Oh, and considering it’s 24, our money’s on Strahovski’s character lasting about three episodes. Or being a mole. Or a triple agent. Or (we wouldn’t put money on this) a love interest for Jack. Or a short-lived, love interest triple agent mole. Who’ll get killed off only to turn up alive and well several episodes later. Or possibly a straightforward CIA agent, although, frankly, that’s just being silly.

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