Pregnancy – My Big Decision (BBC3, 9pm); Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey (BBC2, 8pm)

THIS is one of TV’s surprise hits. Who’d have predicted that a series about three elderly policeman would’ve survived five seasons with the audiences topping nine million for the last series making it more popular than the soaps.

The format is simple enough. Veteran coppers Jack Halford (James Bolam, 71), Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) and Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman, 61) have been dragged out of retirement to join the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS).

Under the watchful eye of Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman, at 50 the baby of the group), they set about getting to grips with new-fangled policing methods while also proving that old-fashioned hunches still have their place.

Its success has got people wondering why the series has proved so popular, presumably in the hope that they can replicate the formula. There’s no doubt that there’s a chemistry between the four main actors that makes it more than just another police series.

“Amanda, Dennis, Alun and James have brought real depth, warmth and humour to their characters, but I know there’s still much more we can do with the series,” says executive producer Tom Sherry.

“It’s the show’s ability to be both humorously entertaining and, from time to time, tackle darker issues which keeps all the team keen to come back and make this year even better.”

As the new series opens, one of the UCOS team is in rehab. After falling off the wagon in spectacular style at the end of the last run, Brian is forced to check into the Trinity Clinic by his wife, Esther (played by Susan Jameson – Bolam’s real-life wife).

While Brian accepts he needs help to conquer his alcoholism, he’s less willing to give up his addiction to sleuthing. So he’s keen to learn more when Father Bernard (Richard Wilson), one of the monks who run the centre, mentions the mysterious death of a drug addict at the clinic 12 years ago.

Sandra agrees it’s worth looking into, but as she’s faithfully promised Esther not to let Brian do any detective work until he’s recovered, there’s only one thing for it. Gerry is going to have to go undercover in the rehab centre – as a sex addict.

CHANTELLE and Lydia are two very different teenagers with one big thing in common – they’re both desperate to become mothers as soon as possible.

Chantelle is 16 and has been with her boyfriend for a year, while Lydia is only 14 and isn’t dating, but believes she is ready to raise a child of her own.

Their families can’t understand why the girls are in such a hurry to throw their teens away, but are hoping that a five-day road trip will convince them it’s worth waiting a good few years before they have children.

With their mums and grandmothers in tow, the girls visit a psychotherapist and a maternity ward, and also take care of an electronic baby to give them some idea of just how much work is involved.

A careers day also gives them some idea of a few of the other options open to them – but it remains to be seen whether it will be sufficient to change their minds.

CHEF Rick Stein heads to the Far East to explore some of the region’s most diverse food cultures in his new series Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey.

He begins his journey in Cambodia.

There, he discovers what sort of food is available to tourists travelling to the region following the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime.

He tucks into freshly caught swimmer crabs with green peppercorns and lok lak made with marinated beef, then receives a masterclass in the country’s most famous dish, the intriguingly-named fish amok.

When he’s not eating or cooking, he gets to check out some of the sights with visits to the Angor Wat temple and a trip down the Mekong River in a rice barge.