Jack’s back. And it’s going to be another long day.

Last time we saw Jack Bauer he was slumped over the body of his wife, shot by his lover who had turned out to be a terrorist. It had been a very long day. Series two begins a year later and Jack is, understandably, in a bad way. His daughter won’t see him and he’s even grown a beard that makes him look like his dad. Unfortunately, there are some nutters about to set off a nuclear device in LA and the newly elected President Palmer wants him to help.

The question is, will this series be able to live up to its predecessor, whose multi-stranded plot twisted and turned almost as much as Jack answered his mobile? The evidence of episode one is that the formula hasn’t been tampered with too much, and that it should prove to be as much of a rollercoaster as the last one. And if you get hooked enough there’s even Pure 24 on the newly launched BBC Three where fans can let off steam. The clock is ticking. Matt Walton 13 February 03

24, series two, starts 16 February 03 on BBC 2 & BBC 3.