The World's Most Extraordinary Homes – Mountain (BBC2)

AWARD-winning architect Piers Taylor and actress and property enthusiast Caroline Quentin (who previously presented Restoration Home for the same channel) explore a range of incredible architect-designed houses in extreme locations around the world.

Whether built into the side of a cliff, nestled in a forest, perched at the top of a mountain or under the earth, these are homes that connect to their environment in a spectacular way.

Each half-long episode is themed according to the houses’ environments: Coast, Forest, Mountain and Underground, with Caroline and Piers travelling to locations ranging from North America, Australasia and Europe.

To explore how these dramatic designs function as both works of architecture and as real houses, they stay overnight, eat meals and spend time in the homes. Piers and Caroline are a new and entertaining pairing of a property expert and an architect, both bringing their own expertise, humour and experience as they meet some of the owners and architects of these incredible buildings.

In episode one, their journey starts in the Santa Monica mountains in California, where one homeowner built her dream home from the most unthinkable re-used building material – the wings and tail fins of a disused Boeing 747, which had to be delivered onto the mountain site by helicopter.

Their next stop takes them to the desert Tuscon Mountain Range of Arizona, to see a stunning modern house which is heavily influenced by ancient building methods. The home has an innovative take on traditional rammed earth houses, a centuries-old technique that absorbs the heat during the day and releases it at night, reducing the need for air-conditioning and heating.

Next, its the other side of the world on New Zealand’s South Island. Designed to fit within strict planning regulations, this house was inspired by the surrounding trees and mountains and is camouflaged using wooden cedar cladding to cloak the building, and with fireplaces cast in concrete.

The last stop takes them to the Swiss Alps, to a unique alpine chalet with a hexagonal shape giving it stability in the freezing winter winds, while a steel chimney core that anchors the house to the mountain and distributes heat around the house.

Britain's Best Walks with Julia Bradbury (ITV, regions vary)

NEW series. The presenter chooses six of her favourite and most accessible family treks from across the UK. She begins by heading to one of the most famous landmarks on the Jurassic Coast – Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, which boasts spectacular views towards the Isle of Wight and of the offshore chalk stacks, good opportunities for bird and butterfly watching and a rich variety of wild flowers in spring and summer. There are also miles of golden sandy beaches and a dramatic vista of the bay.

The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street vs Emmerdale (ITV, 9pm)

IF you think 2016 was a turbulent year in the "real world", then just be thankful you don't live in Weatherfield or Emmerdale, where it's been one disaster after another. In the Dales, the Barton family alone lost both Holly and James last year, while on Coronation Street, Maria found herself starring in her very own version of Gone Girl and yet another of Gail Potter-Tilsley-Platt-Hillman-McIntyre-Rodwell's husbands met his maker. But just how much attention have the actors been paying to the storylines, especially those that don't affect their characters? Here's a chance to find out as Stephen Mulhern quizzes the stars of Emmerdale and Corrie – led by returning captains Mark "Marlon Dingle" Charnock and Jack P Shepherd, aka David Platt.

The Big Fat Quiz of Everything (C4, 9pm)

JIMMY Carr challenges Jonathan Ross, David Walliams, Katherine Ryan, Aisling Bea, Noel Fielding and Richard Ayoade to answer questions on art, literature, television, music, geography, politics, science and celebrity from the past 100,000 years of human history. Jonnie Peacock drops by to test the panel's sporting memories and the London Philharmonic Choir is on hand to add a touch of class.

Viv Hardwick