Kiefer Sutherland is said to be thankful he kept his job after spending Christmas in jail for drink driving.The star of hit series 24 was sentenced to 48 days in jail after he was caught driving under the influence in Los Angeles last September.He subsequently spent his 41st birthday, Christmas and New Year's Eve behind bars but now that he’s and back on the set of hit show 24, Sutherland is counting his blessings - because his stupidity could have cost him his job.He says, "I made a really dumb mistake, and to be able to get back to work, which is something I feel comfortable doing and is a safe place for me, I was grateful to have that opportunity."I have friends who have made similar mistakes who have not been that lucky."Meanwhile in related news TV bosses are ditching drama show 24's real time format for a two-hour movie that will kick off the seventh series.Producers of the show, including star Kiefer Sutherland, opted for the special episode, so they could experiment with main character Jack Bauer, and without abandoning the concept in the regular season.

Sutherland explains, "We had originally started out in Africa at the beginning of season seven. We would literally, after four episodes, have to say, '16 hours later.' And no one felt good about that.

"So we ended up having to scrap that storyline. This was a fantastic opportunity to do that storyline and set everything else up with that and allow us to go to Africa."

Shooting on season seven is currently underway.

Tagged in