Co-creator of '24' quits show

Joel Surnow, co-creator of 24, has quit his role as executive producer on the show.

He will not return to complete the current series, which was cut short at eight episodes by the Writers Guild of America strike.

Surnow was contracted to producer 20th Century Fox TV until April 30 but it has agreed to let him go early to make "a clean break" with new projects.

He has been considering leaving since the summer, he said, but reached the decision during the strike. He said the series had been "a life and career changing experience" and he was glad to leave it in the "capable hands" of producer Howard Gordon.

Surnow added: "I did some soul-searching. I took it as an opportunity to write on my own and do other things.

"After doing 24 I don't know if I want to do a mainstream show again. I like what's going on in cable. There is an opportunity to stretch dramatically there, which is something I'm trying to do."