'24' chiefs plan new romance plot

Published Saturday, Feb 28 2009, 11:34 GMT | By Daniel Kilkelly

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24's executive producer Howard Gordon has confirmed that romance is on the cards for Jack Bauer and Renee Walker.

Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and Walker (Annie Wersching) have grown close while working together to stop terrorists and uncover traitors within the US government in the current season of the Fox drama.

"They have established the emotional framework for a relationship that I think we're going to see manifested in the eighth season," Gordon told TVGuide.com. "It's definitely part of our plan."

"It's not a romance in the traditional sense of the word," he continued. "It's a lot more broken and jagged than what you might imagine."

Wersching was one of a number of new recruits for the seventh season, which has been billed by chiefs as a "reboot" for the show.

Praising Wersching's work on the programme, Gordon added: "[She] has really connected with the audience. I think she's done a spectacular job and we're extremely proud of her."