24 star does time for drink-driving

One advantage of the Hollywood writers' strike is that it gives out-of-work actors plenty of time to complete any jail sentence they may receive for drunk-driving. Kiefer Sutherland was formally sentenced yesterday to 48 days in jail for just such an offence. The star of the hit show 24, in which he plays counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, was entitled to serve the sentence in 'parcels' of time, with producers organising the shooting schedule around his periods of incarceration; but with no writers available, and the cast and crew stood down, Sutherland chose to start his sentence immediately.

The actor has been allowed to serve his term at Glendale city jail rather than the notorious Twin Towers 'correctional facility' in LA, which is said to have became so dangerous that jailers cannot guarantee the safety of high-profile inmates. At Glendale, he has been given a 10ft by 8ft cell equipped with a bed, toilet, washbasin and water fountain, and is expected to work in the laundry room and kitchen.

Sutherland was found to be over the limit when he was stopped by police leaving a party in Hollywood earlier this year while he was still on probation for an earlier offence – hence the jail term. He has been playing Jack Bauer on 24 since 2001. Because of the writers' strike, the January 13 debut of season seven has been delayed.