Hard Quiz
Hosted by comedian Tom Gleeson, who gets to quiz and mock four contestants, each of whom has selected a specialist subject area. The winner gets to own Tom's coveted Big Brass Mug.
- 2016-2026
- 11 seasons
- Comedy, Game Show
Hosted by comedian Tom Gleeson, who gets to quiz and mock four contestants, each of whom has selected a specialist subject area. The winner gets to own Tom's coveted Big Brass Mug.
Season 8 Episode Guide
31 Episodes 2023
Episode 1
Lion King, Legend of Zelda, Smallpox & Antique Purses
29 mins
Fighting for Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug are engineer and Lion King fan Jasmine, software engineer and Legend of Zelda player Ed, nanny and smallpox expert Izzy, and dill pickle maker Mikey.
Episode 2
Typefaces, the Tasmanian devil, Breaker Morant & Tina Arena
28 mins
Vying for Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug are experts in typefaces, the Tasmanian devil, war criminal Breaker Morant and Aussie songbird Tina Arena.
Episode 3
Samantha Stosur, Freddie Mercury, Seinfeld & the Galapagos Tortoise.
27 mins
Tom Gleeson dishes out the points and the put-downs as four experts vie for the Big Brass Mug with their topics: tennis star Samantha Stosur, Queen singer Freddie Mercury, TV sitcom Seinfeld, and the Galapagos tortoise.
Episode 4
Monsters Inc, Frida Kahlo, Pugs & Australian Currency
28 mins
Four experts match wits and dodge witticisms from host Tom Gleeson with their subjects: animated film Monsters, Inc, artist Frida Kahlo, pug dogs, and Australian currency. Only the hardest will survive.
Episode 5
Anthony Albanese, Grey's Anatomy, Echidnas & Rin Tin Tin
30 mins
Tom Gleeson puts four experts through the Battle of the Big Brass Mug. This week's topics are Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, medical drama Grey's Anatomy, Echidnas, and the black and white canine adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Episode 6
Battle of the Duds: Bugs Bunny. Hamilton, Love Actually & Airbus A320
29 mins
It's a Battle of the Duds. Taking another shot at Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug are Bugs Bunny expert Michael, Hamilton the musical fan Miek, Love Actually expert Spencer, and Airbus A320 expert Deborah, who is a pilot.
Episode 7
Tony Hawk, Glenn McGrath, Mad Men & Parachuting
28 mins
Tom Gleeson is back with another four experts vying to be champion and take home the Big Brass Mug. Topics include skateboard legend Tony Hawk, cricket legend Glenn McGrath, period drama Mad Men, and parachuting.
Episode 8
Nicki Minaj, The platypus, Joseph Stalin, & Colonoscopies
30 mins
Fighting over Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug are experts on rapper Nicki Minaj, wacky Aussie favourite the platypus, murderous dictator Joseph Stalin, and the medical marvel of colonoscopies (not to be tried at home).
Episode 9
Blade Runner, Geoffrey Chaucer, Daniel Ricciardo & Pineapples
27 mins
What do the movie Blade Runner, poet Geoffrey Chaucer, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo and pineapples have in common? They're all topics on this episode, where four big fans take on the hilarious Tom Gleeson.
Episode 10
Scouts Australia, The Incredibles, Michael Jordan & Penny-farthing bicycles
30 mins
Four contestants are after one Big Brass Mug, and host Tom Gleeson is in the way. Expert topics are Scouts Australia, animated film The Incredibles, NBA superstar Michael Jordan, and penny-farthing bicycles.
Episode 11
Rent, Beyonce, Australian finches & SeaChange
28 mins
The Big Brass Mug is up for grabs again as Tom Gleeson quizzes another quartet on their questionable topics: the musical Rent, Grammy-winner Beyonce, Australian finches, and Aussie TV classic SeaChange.
Episode 12
George Michael, The Sims, Western Bulldogs & the Cuban missile crisis
28 mins
Tom Gleeson quizzes contestants on pop legend George Michael, video game The Sims, AFL team Western Bulldogs, and the Cuban missile crisis.
Episode 13
Disney's Encanto, Brett Whiteley, George Harrison & Man vs Wild
28 mins
Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug is under siege from four contestants and their eclectic expert subjects: Disney's Encanto, artist Brett Whiteley, musician George Harrison, and the Bear Grylls adventure series Man vs Wild.
Episode 14
Australian zoos, Salt-N-Pepa, BoJack Horseman & Anna Pavlova
28 mins
Chasing after Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug this week are experts in Australian zoos, rap group Salt-N-Pepa, animated series BoJack Horseman, and a fascinator-wearing fan of ballet superstar Anna Pavlova.
Episode 15
Hello Kitty, Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy Operas, Triumph Motorcycles and Michael J. Fox
28 mins
Tom Gleeson awards the Big Brass Mug to whichever expert best answers his Hard Quiz questions on their expert topic: Hello Kitty, Triumph motorcycles, actor Michael J. Fox, and composers Gilbert and Sullivan.
Episode 16
Battle of the Duds: Dinosaurs, Penicillin, the Isle of Wight and Simone Biles
29 mins
It's another Battle of the Duds. Tom Gleeson faces four people foolish enough to have a second try at the Big Brass Mug with their expert subjects of dinosaurs, penicillin, the Isle of Wight and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
Episode 17
The Ashes: Machin Postage Stamps, Animal Crossing, Morse Code and Good Will Hunting
29 mins
It's the Hard Quiz Ashes. A pack of Poms want the Big Brass Mug and Aussie Tom Gleeson wants to bowl them out. Their topics: Morse code, video game Animal Crossing, the movie Good Will Hunting, and Machin postage stamps.
Episode 18
Australian parrots, Cricket bats, Bones and WikiLeaks
27 mins
Tom Gleeson is hanging on to the Big Brass Mug until one Hard Quiz expert can prove they deserve it - but with which topic? Australian parrots, cricket bats, bones, or WikiLeaks?
Episode 19
Android Smartphones, Sydney Opera House, AFL & TV show Gladiators
28 mins
Four know-it-alls want Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug: an Android smartphone aficionado, a Sydney Opera House tour guide, an AFL umpire, and someone who is into people getting hit with padded poles on the TV show Gladiators.
Episode 20
Australian Microbats, Minecraft, the Planet Mars & the Billy Madison Movie
28 mins
Tom Gleeson faces an onslaught from experts in Australian microbats, computer game Minecraft, the planet Mars and Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison. Who will win the Big Brass Mug?
Episode 21
Avro Lancaster bomber, Celine Dion, The IT Crowd & African venomous snakes
29 mins
Tom Gleeson has Hard Quiz questions for those who covet his Big Brass Mug. Contestants are experts on the Avro Lancaster bomber, Canadian singer Celine Dion, comedy series The IT Crowd and African venomous snakes.
Episode 22
Harry Styles, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Pulp Fiction, & Wheat
29 mins
What do singer Harry Styles, tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the movie Pulp Fiction, and wheat have in common? They're all expert topics on Hard Quiz this week. Find out who takes home Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug.
Episode 23
The Late Show, Nauru, Beekeeping & the Harp
27 mins
Tom Gleeson puts four contestants under the grill as they battle it out over the Big Brass Mug with their expert subjects: Aussie comedy series The Late Show, the island of Nauru, beekeeping, and musical instrument, the harp.
Episode 24
S Club 7, Modern Family, Brisbane Broncos & Spielberg's Schindler's List
27 mins
An epic Hard Quiz battle featuring experts on pop group S Club 7, TV sitcom Modern Family, NRL club Brisbane Broncos and the Spielberg masterpiece Schindler's List. Only one will prove worthy of Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug.
Episode 25
Come From Away, Katy Perry, Human Immune System & Rene Descartes
27 mins
Tom Gleeson oversees another Hard Quiz battle for the Big Brass Mug. He welcomes alleged experts on the musical Come From Away, pop star Katy Perry, the human immune system and philosopher Rene Descartes.
Episode 26
Backstreet Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Australian wine & Sir David Attenborough
28 mins
Tom Gleeson has a Big Brass Mug and to win it, contestants must answer Hard Quiz questions about ageing boyband the Backstreet Boys, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Australian wine and Sir David Attenborough.
Episode 27
Battle of the Duds: The Phantom, Miles Davis, Easy Rider & Adolf Hitler
29 mins
The 200th episode is a Battle of the Duds. Tom Gleeson invites failed contestants to humiliate themselves again. Vying for the Dud Mug are experts in The Phantom, Miles Davis, Easy Rider, and Adolf Hitler.
Episode 28
Kate Bush, Bratz dolls, Kakadu National Park & The Goodies
28 mins
Who will accept the Big Brass Mug from Tom Gleeson and who will be sent out? On the Hard Quiz podiums are self-nominated experts in Kate Bush, Bratz dolls, Kakadu National Park and The Goodies.
Episode 29
Scooby-Doo, The Salvation Army, The Big Lebowski & Slipknot
29 mins
Tom Gleeson hosts Australia's favourite quiz show. Expert topics are Scooby-Doo, The Salvation Army, The Big Lebowski film and masked metal band, Slipknot. Only one winner can take home the Big Brass Mug.
Episode 30
Jurassic Park, Elvis, Gough Whitlam & Charlotte Hornets
29 mins
His Royal Hardness, Tom Gleeson, quizzes his challengers' knowledge of Jurassic Park, Elvis, Ex-PM Gough Whitlam and not-very-successful basketball team, the Charlotte Hornets. Who will hold aloft the Big Brass Mug?
Episode 31
Battle of the Influencers
29 mins
Tom Gleeson takes on four of Australia's most popular online influencers: @nalopia, @ianz95, @chantyb97, and @Mully. It's a culture clash of epic proportions, where the only guarantee is utter mayhem.
