"24" TV drama star Kiefer Sutherland has been sentenced to 48 days in jail after pleading no contest to charges of drink-driving, BBC reported on Wednesday.

Under a deal with prosecutors, the star will serve the punishment during breaks in filming on the seventh series of the hit "24". Sutherland, 40, was arrested in Los Angeles last month while on probation for a 2004 drink-driving offence.

The sentence consists of 30 days for driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit, and 18 days for violating his probation.

"I apologize for my poor judgement and for the distress the case caused to my family, friends and co-workers," the actor said in a statement.

Sutherland also received a six-month driving ban, and was ordered to attend alcohol education classes for 18 months and weekly alcohol therapy sessions for six months.The Canadian-born actor first came to fame as part of the 1980s "brat pack", starring in films such as The Lost Boys, Young Guns and Flatliners. He took on the role of 24's counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer in 2001, and won an Emmy for the role last year.