Surgery for ‘24’ star Kiefer Sutherland

Fictional counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer is able to withstand the most extraordinary pain - from gunshots, knife wounds and torture - while barely flinching. But filming of the long-running drama series 24 has had to be halted temporarily while the actor who plays Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland, goes into hospital for a "medical procedure".

A spokesman for Fox would not comment on the nature of Sutherland's complaint, but the Los Angeles Times reports that he is suffering from a ruptured cyst.

The show, currently screening in the US and Britain, still has about six weeks' filming to go before series eight is complete. Fox executives say shooting is expected to resume next week and there should be no disruption in the show's broadcast, even though filming is only ever a few weeks ahead of the on-screen series.

Kiefer, 43-year-old son of the veteran Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, is also executive producer. ·