The makers of hit show 24 are creating a spin-off series of one-minute dramas designed to be viewed on mobile phones.

The ‘mobisodes’ will be offered to Vodafone users in the UK from January, coinciding with the start of the thriller’s fourth season on television.

Fox will introduce the service to high speed mobile phone users in 23 other countries later next year.

The bite-size dramas, 24 in all, will be based on the show’s characters including Jack Bauer.

It is the first time that a Hollywood studio has created a series specifically for distribution via mobile phones.

Real-time

Spy thriller 24 is set in real-time, with each episode covering one hour in the life of the programme’s characters.

Its first series in 2001 saw central character Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, attempt to thwart an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate.

He also had to rescue his family during the critical 24 hours.

The third series of the drama stalled in the US television ratings, losing two million viewers compared with its second series debut.

Tags: 24, cellphones, Fox, mobile phones, mobisodes, Television