THE END OF A PERFECT DAY

THE end of another action-packed day is in sight for Jack Bauer in '24' (Sky One), with the final two episodes of this series being shown on Sunday.

At last he might be able to eat, drink, sleep and go to the toilet like an ordinary human being. But then Jack is not ordinary. This is the man who can actually die, be brought back to life and still save the world all in the same few hours!

This latest day in the life of the CTU maverick has been just as enthralling as ever. There has been the usual plethora of cliffhangers and shocks - including the sad demise of Jack's smouldering colleague Tony (although, how could he have possibly lived without his beloved Michelle?)

Now we are waiting to see how Jack can stop yet another terrorist threat to Los Angeles - and bring down dodgy President Logan, who is chillingly portrayed by an actor who must have been chosen for his Nixon-like jowls.

The only cloud on the horizon is that Jack is still toting that sissy 'man bag' around with him. Does this signal a softening of his tough guy image? After all, there was a time when he wouldn't have entertained doing a deal with murderous ex-colleague Christopher Henderson. He would have put a bullet through his skeletal head without thinking twice.

Thankfully, the dithering First Lady Martha has now regained her strength enough to shoot the White House goon charged with putting the concrete boots on poor Aaron Pierce. Have a word with Jack, Martha. We need him to be at his ruthless best, if Logan and his terrorist buddies are to be consigned to history.

Meanwhile, over on Fantasy Island in 'Lost' (Channel 4, Tuesday) the plot thickens - and the secrets of the location have become murkier than ever.

The introduction of the characters from the tail section of the crashed plane has provided an excuse for a new round of flashbacks and many more questions to be raised. In fact, there are now so many inexplicable happenings that I'm starting to feel like Alice in Wonderland every time I watch, half expecting a white rabbit to come bounding across the screen!

Having said that, it's a series that stirs the brain into action and that can't be bad. And there is the added attraction of bad boy Sawyer, who is now looking more like his gorgeous self. (OK, you've nursed him back to health and cut his hair, Kate. Now get yourself back to boring Jack!)

Finally, good luck to the England team in the World Cup quarter final against Portugal this weekend. Message to Sven - in the pre-match team talk, tell the boys to imagine they are 11 Jack Bauers. No contest