INTERNATIONAL TV FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH -- Warning: This article contains spoilers about upcoming episodes of 24 which some readers may prefer to avoid.


Evan Katz, executive producer and writer at 24, has discussed the show's development and maturity.

Speaking via satellite link at this year's Edinburgh TV Festival, Katz, who joined from the second season, admitted to being initially skeptical of the format. "I was there when Joel [Surnow] was there, going to pitch it and I thought, 'that's never going to work'. I thought it would be boring and I was wrong."

He added: "There were always high expectations behind it but it was a moderate performer the first year. It really started to build in the second year."

The nature of the show, Katz said, had changed season-on-season but "really came into its own" last year. "For the first three years, there was a single threat. [The fourth season] was more a series of nested Russian dolls.

"We got flak about Jack's daughter for two years; people thought we were doing too many 'damsel in distress' scenarios. Obviously there's only so many times you can threaten a guy's wife and daughter. Once you've done something, you can't do the same thing again. So we're going to look at different ways of raising the stakes for Jack."

Contrary to popular belief, Katz insisted that the team never really plan more than two episodes ahead of filming. Episodes three and four of the upcoming season are currently being filmed in LA while the fifth and sixth "exist".

On said season, Katz remained coy but teased: "This year: we know how we're bringing Jack back, we know who we're bringing back. We're giving President Logan a wife who is emotionally delicate. And we're bringing back a few of our regulars but... can't tell you."

Asked if the show could work with Jack away from CTU, he replied: "I don't know - and I don't want to give anything away about season five. Clearly he has some ground to travel before he gets back into action."