'Lost' exec: 'Candidates central to plot'

The executive producers of Lost have suggested that the candidates are central to the show's final season.

In a recent episode, it was revealed that the numbers - 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 - correspond to a group of people called 'the candidates'.

It later emerged that Locke, Hurley, Sawyer, Sayid, Jack and either Jin or Sun were the names attached to the numbers.

"The concept of the candidates is really central to the final season of the show," Carlton Cuse told TV Guide. "Jacob is dead so that leaves a significant problem for the people on the island.

"Who is destined to be the person protecting this place?"

Fellow exec Damon Lindelof added: "At least now we have some sense - if Jacob is responsible for bringing them there - that is has something to do with the fact that he's been observing them for quite some time.

"We now have information that he had this lighthouse, that he was able to see these people, look into their lives. For some reason, he chose them. We'll find out what that reason is in the coming weeks."

Lost resumes tonight at 9pm on ABC in the US and Friday at 9pm on Sky1 in the UK.

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