The secrecy surrounding the making of the second series of the American television thriller '24' almost mirrors its plotline for suspense.

The series, which is shown in real time has been critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic.

It has been attracting an average of 2.4 million viewers in the normally quiet 2200 slot on Sundays on BBC 2.

Dennis Haysbert, who plays Senator David Palmer, talked to Bill and Sophie this morning on Breakfast.

Click here to watch our interview with Dennis Haysbert.

The 24 Plot

24 happens in 'real time', each episode covers an hour.

The whole story began at midnight and so far they're up to 6pm.

It takes place on the day of the California Presidential Primary.

Senator Palmer is the first African-American with a realistic chance at the White House and there's a plot to assassinate him that day.

Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer, a Counter Terrorism Agent called in to stop the assassination.

It turns out they've both been targeted in revenge for a covert mission in Belgrade exactly two years before, authorised by Palmer and led by Bauer, in which they killed Victor Drazen, who'd been discovered committing atrocities in Kosovo.

Drazen's wife and daughter were killed in the process and now Drazen's sons have kidnapped Bauer's own wife and daughter, planning to kill them in revenge.

Meanwhile the Senator has other problems.

The next 24 episode is on Sunday July 14, on BBC 2 at 2200 BST.