There's been frantic activity in recent weeks as 24's producers put together the last parts of the jigsaw for what's likely to be the final season of the show.

It's been definitely confirmed that Katee Sackhoff, Freddie Prinze Jr, John Boyd, Mykelti Williamson and Chris Diamantopoulos have been added to the cast in recurring roles, and we also know that CTU will be making a return, this time based in New York.

It'll be run by new boss Brian Hastings (Williamson), with a field division run by Cole Ortiz (which is where Prinze Jr comes in). New data analyst is Sackhoff's Dana Walsh, while John Boyd will be new systems analyst Arlo Glass.

Cherry Jones returns as President Allison Taylor, and her new chief of staff - Bob Gunton isn't returning, it seems - is Rob Weiss (played by Diamantopoulos). Then there's an ambitious journalist thrown into the mix, too, played by Meredith Reed.

Returning to the show are Chloe, as you'd hope, but also Agent Walker, who hopefully will pick up one of the few interesting threads of note from the end of season seven.

The show already has its return date, as it'll be kicking off with its by-now customary two episode start on Sunday January 17th 2010. The next two episodes will then be shown on 18th January, before the show assumes its usual weekly duties.

Er, did we mention that Kiefer Sutherland is coming back, too? We figured you might have worked that out yourself, though. Here's hoping he leaves his daughter behind this time, though...