After nine long seasons of a playing a member of Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) named Jack Bauer on Fox’s immensely successfully “24,” Kiefer Sutherland wasn’t looking forward to taking a break.

In an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC, the 50-year-old actor was told by Jimmy Fallon, “I thought you weren’t coming back to TV. I thought you were like, ‘Ah I did Jack Bauer.’” Sutherland then said, “Well, it wasn’t the plan.”

Sutherland explained that working in TV is hard, the hours are long and with quality shows like “24,” it seems like the cast and crew are making 12 films (and not just 12 episodes) a year. “And so after nine years,” the singer-songwriter explained, “I was like, ‘I’ll take a break.’”

READ: The President is back in the office in “Designated Survivor” Season 1, episode 12.

Although the Canadian actor was excited to take a long break after nine years of adhering to a hectic shooting schedule, he had no plans on how to enjoy his vacation.

Alas, the holiday didn’t last long. Mark Gordon, the producer of ABC’s “Designated Survivor,” sent Sutherland the script of his exciting new show. Sutherland gave it a cursory read and was looking for reasons to turn the offer down but by the time he reached page 20, it became clear that he was holding a very good script in his hands.

Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in the show. He becomes the designated survivor during the State of the Union address. When a bomb explodes inside the Capitol and kills everyone before him in the line of succession, Kirkman finds himself becoming the next President of the United States.

While Kirkman tries to become a skilled politician and adjust to his new role, a conspiracy brews inside the White House.

Besides starring in a TV show, Sutherland is also a singer. He recently released a new album, “Down in a Hole.”

“Designated Survivor” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC.

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