A catch up with Carlos 'Tony Almeida' Bernard

Yesterday we treated you to the first scraps of footage from the upcoming eighth season of 24, but today we're winding back the clock and catching up with someone who's been with the show since the beginning. Presumed dead after the traumatic events of season five, former CTU agent Tony Almeida resurfaced last season as a badass wannabe-terrorist, hellbent on revenge. To coincide with the release of season seven on DVD, we caught up with actor Carlos Bernard to talk about his return to the show - and the prospect of the end being in sight.

How are you enjoying the UK?
"It's great. I'm currently in a car on the way to Loose Women, which is in an interesting prospect. I'm told it's quite similar to The View though, which I've done before so I should be fine."

Before you were asked back for season seven, were you aware that Tony wasn't dead?
"I kind of knew, because we didn't have a silent clock when he was supposedly killed off in season five. They originally asked me to come back for a storyline at the end of season six, but we felt it would have been a cheat to the audience [to do that]."

Were you ever nervous about coming back for season seven?
"I was anxious to see how the audience would respond to the character coming back but I think when I read the scripts, and the audience saw the episodes on screen, it was completely believable. It was a good story and an interesting journey that Tony went on."

Well exactly - last season he was bad, then good, then bad again. How much of that story arc did you know going in to season seven?
"I pretty much knew from the start. We discussed Tony's motivations and I understood what he was feeling. He was hellbent on getting revenge on this guy (Wilson) who was ultimately responsible for the death of not only Michelle but also his unborn son. He wasn't going to let anyone - not even Jack - get in the way of that goal."

How had the show changed in your time away?
"Not much. There had been some changes to the cast and crew - pretty much every year we reinvent the show's setup - but there were a lot of familiar faces. It was like I hadn't been away."

Did you watch season six as a viewer?
"Do you know what? Honestly, I didn't. I've never really watched the show, mostly because I don't like seeing myself on screen. I only really tune in when there are some guest stars where I particularly want to see how their [scenes] turned out."

And are you coming back for season eight?
"That, I'm not allowed to talk about!"

There are heavy hints that season eight will be the last. Do you think it's time?
"I do, honestly. It's pretty hard creatively to find ways of topping yourself season after season, but we've gone for eight so far, so who knows? Regardless I think we're going to have a very good season this year."

24 season seven is out on DVD and Bluray now. Special features include 14 deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage and 14 audio commentaries.

Do you want to see Tony back for season eight of 24? Do you agree that the time is right to end the show? Add your comments to this entry below!