24 on hold

24 is the first big casualty of the writers strike. There are just 7 episodes in the can for the new season which is due to start in the US on January 13th and in the UK a week later. Production has been halted because of the strike. Even if the strike ends in the next few weeks, production won't be able to resume as Kiefer Sutherland has already agreed to serve part of his jail sentence in December, during what would have been a planned break in filming. There is little point in screening seven episodes so FOX have announced that the entire series will be shelved until all 24 episodes can be completed. This means if the strike continues we may not see 24 at all this TV season with the show potentially not returning next Autumn of maybe 2009.

There's a tough choice ahead also for Lost who only have 8 episodes completed. They may need to decide on running 8 and postponing the other 8, running a longer season next time, with the postponed 8 and 16 new episodes. Or - postponing entirely until next season.

This is all likely to have a major impact on SKY One's Winter schedule who have 24 and Lost as their Sunday night crown jewels.