About this season
Host Tom Gleeson sets out to find Australia's hardest quiz champion, pitting four contestants against each other in a battle of attrition.
Episodes (35)
1. Greek Mythology, SpaceX, Rake & the Holden Commodore
Aired 17 February 2021 • 30 min
Quizzing hard with Tom Gleeson tonight: Greek Mythology fan Tamara, SpaceX fan Michael, Rake fan Megan, and Holden Commodore expert Jason. Don't mix these topics at home!
2. The Tuba, Gone with the Wind, Paul McCartney & the Battle of Britain
Aired 24 February 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson tests four experts to find the Hard Quiz Champ. Tonight's topics: the Tuba, Gone with the Wind, Paul McCartney and the Battle of Britain. Play along at home - you might be surprised at what you already know!
3. Alfred the Great, Bob Dylan, the British Open & Degrassi
Aired 3 March 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson dishes out the points and the putdowns as four experts vie for the Big Brass Mug. Tonight's topics: Alfred the Great, Bob Dylan, the British Open and Degrassi. See how you fare when the Hard Quiz buzzer sounds.
4. Wally Lewis, Mel Brooks, Mushrooms & Stephen Sondheim
Aired 10 March 2021 • 30 min
Four experts match wits and dodge witticisms from host Tom Gleeson. This week's topics: Wally Lewis, Mel Brooks, Mushrooms, and Stephen Sondheim. Only the hardest will survive. Play along with the hashtag Hard Quiz!
5. Kanye West, Gavin & Stacey, Robert F. Kennedy & Jane Austen
Aired 17 March 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson puts four more self-proclaimed experts through the Big Brass wringer. Tom tests four hopeful hotshots on Kanye West, Gavin & Stacey, Robert F Kennedy and the books of Jane Austen.
6. Olivia Newton-John, Collingwood FC, Garlic & Top Gun
Aired 24 March 2021 • 30 min
Tom has the questions, but do his guests have the answers? Self-proclaimed experts on Olivia Newton-John, Collingwood FC, Garlic and Top Gun put their knowledge to the ultimate test.
7. Field Hockey, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Sister Elizabeth Kenny & Milk
Aired 31 March 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson isn't afraid to keep asking questions until someone hoists a Big Brass Mug. His contestants tackle Field Hockey, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Sister Elizabeth Kenny, and... Milk!
8. HMAS Melbourne, Justin Bieber, Socceroos & Jim Henson
Aired 7 April 2021 • 30 min
Four vastly different contestants compete on four vastly different topics, all at the mercy of host Tom Gleeson. This week's subjects: HMAS Melbourne, Justin Bieber, The Powerful Owl and Jim Henson.
9. Schitt's Creek, Japanese Railways, Percy Jackson & Hank Williams
Aired 14 April 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson puts another set of contestants through their paces - and through the wringer. Tonight's topics include Schitt's Creek, Japanese Railways, the Percy Jackson books series and Hank Williams.
10. Ghostbusters, Pink Floyd, classic Minis & the Kim Dynasty
Aired 21 April 2021 • 30 min
Four contestants, one Big Brass Mug, and a host who takes no prisoners. Tom Gleeson tests his charges on their expert topics of Ghostbusters, Pink Floyd, classic Minis and the Kim Dynasty.
11. Battle of the Duds
Aired 28 April 2021 • 30 min
Four favourites return for a second shot at being Hard Quiz champion in the latest Battle of the Duds - Kristy (expert topic: the Arab-Israeli conflict), Julie (dingoes), Charlie (Vincent motorcycles) and Vinny (Lady Gaga).
12. Novak Djokovic, Mary Poppins, black holes & the European Union
Aired 5 May 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson squeezes another four expert contestants through the Hard Quiz wringer. Their special subjects include Tennis World Number One Novak Djokovic, whimsical nanny Mary Poppins, black holes and the European Union.
13. My Fair Lady, the Qantas Flight 32 Emergency, TikTok & Ricky Ponting
Aired 12 May 2021 • 30 min
Four experts, four topics, but only one Big Brass Mug. Tom Gleeson asks hard-hitting questions about My Fair Lady, the Qantas Flight 32 Emergency, TikTok, and Ricky Ponting. Why not bat along at home?
14. Spartacus, Glee, Penguins & the Trump Presidency
Aired 19 May 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson is back to poke fun at a fresh batch of experts competing for the Big Brass Mug. Topics include Spartacus, TV Series Glee, Penguins, and the Trump Presidency.
15. C-130 Hercules, Little Shop of Horrors, Simone Biles & World of Warcraft
Aired 26 May 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson is an expert at drawing contestants out of their shells, and with topics as varied as the C-130 Hercules, Little Shop of Horrors, Simone Biles, and World of Warcraft, there's something for everyone.
16. Star Wars action figures, Hanging Rock, Tomorrow When the War Began & Goo Goo Dolls
Aired 2 June 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson digs up another batch of improbable experts to battle it out for the Big Brass Mug on the topics of classic Star Wars action figures, Hanging Rock, Tomorrow When the War Began and Goo Goo Dolls.
17. The First Persian Empire, the Wiggles, TV show Scrubs & Guinness
Aired 16 June 2021 • 30 min
Hard Quiz brings together four contestants with four expert topics and puts them all under Tom Gleeson's merciless microscope. Topics include: the First Persian Empire, the Wiggles, TV show Scrubs, and Guinness.
18. Kosciuszko National Park, the violin, Nelson Mandela & Sailor Moon
Aired 18 August 2021 • 30 min
Four brave contestants put themselves under the Hard Quiz spotlight for a chance to win Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug. The expert's topics: Kosciuszko National Park, the violin, Nelson Mandela, and Sailor Moon.
19. Mad Max, The House of Windsor, Bjork, & Social Psychology
Aired 25 August 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson's Hard Quiz has something for everyone. The four expert topics are Mad Max, The House of Windsor, Bjork, and Social Psychology. It's time to play... HARD.
20. Dracula, Hillary Clinton, Virat Kohli & Gibson Guitars
Aired 1 September 2021 • 30 min
Who will have what it takes to win Tom Gleeson's treasured Big Brass Mug? The expert topics include Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hillary Clinton, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, and Gibson Guitars.
21. Tenzing Norgay, diamonds, Frozen & Turnbull government
Aired 8 September 2021 • 30 min
Four experts battle it out on Hard Quiz! The contestant's chosen topics include Tenzing Norgay, diamonds, Frozen, and the Turnbull government. Who will take home the Big Brass Mug?
22. French & Saunders, Tiger Woods, Calculus & the Brooklyn Bridge
Aired 15 September 2021 • 30 min
It's the Battle of the Duds! Former losing contestants make a not-so-triumphant return to reclaim the victory they never had. Tom welcomes back experts on French and Saunders, Tiger Woods, Calculus and the Brooklyn Bridge.
23. Petula Clark, How to Train Your Dragon films, periodic table, & F/A-18 Hornet
Aired 22 September 2021 • 30 min
The contestant's specialist subjects include Petula Clark, the How to Train Your Dragon films, the periodic table of elements, and the supersonic F/A-18 Hornet combat jet... and Tom's got a missile lock on all of them.
24. Silverchair, the 'Monster Petition', William the Conqueror & 'The Castle'
Aired 29 September 2021 • 30 min
Vying for Hard Quiz honours are experts on Silverchair, the women's suffrage 'Monster Petition', William the Conqueror, and classic Aussie film favourite The Castle. Which lucky contestant will earn the Big Brass Mug?
25. Les Miserables, book series Grug, Meghan Markle & money laundering
Aired 6 October 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson oversees another battle for trivia supremacy. Special subjects include the musical Les Miserables, illustrated book series Grug, retired actor Meghan Markle and money laundering!
26. Mortal Kombat, Ace Ventura, the Kray Twins & Airbus A320
Aired 13 October 2021 • 30 min
Is Hard Quiz the Mortal Kombat of quiz shows? Find out when an Mortal Kombat expert faces off against fans of Ace Ventura, the Kray Twins and the Airbus A320. Who will be left standing?
27. King Henry VII, Shaquille O'Neal, dinosaurs & Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Aired 20 October 2021 • 30 min
What do King Henry VII, Shaquille O'Neal, dinosaurs and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert have in common? They're all expert topics on Hard Quiz! Find out who takes home Tom's Big Brass Mug!
28. Manchester City, Blue Tongued Lizards, Mariah Carey & The Babysitters Club
Aired 27 October 2021 • 30 min
Only one winner can take home Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug! Expert topics include Manchester City, Australian Blue Tongued Lizards, Mariah Carey, and The Babysitters Club.
29. Bob Geldof, Machine Learning, the Owl & The Matrix Trilogy
Aired 3 November 2021 • 30 min
Who will accept the Big Brass Mug from Tom Gleeson? Stepping up to the mic are experts in Bob Geldof, machine learning, the powerful owl and The Matrix trilogy.
30. Chernobyl disaster, Ultimate Frisbee, Wallace and Gromit & Hanson
Aired 10 November 2021 • 30 min
It's a battle royale as host Tom Gleeson puts four experts to the test on their specialty topics. Topics include the Chernobyl disaster, Ultimate Frisbee, Wallace and Gromit and Hanson.
31. Duke Kahanamoku, AC/DC, Mean Girls & Australian Dung Beetle Project
Aired 17 November 2021 • 30 min
The Big Brass Mug is up for grabs, and experts in Duke Kahanamoku, AC/DC, Mean Girls and the Australian Dung Beetle Project are out to get it. What on earth is the Australian Dung Beetle Project?
32. Twilight Saga, Midnight Oil, Danish Kings of England & Australian railways
Aired 24 November 2021 • 30 min
Quizmaster-General Tom Gleeson sinks his teeth into the Twilight Saga, Midnight Oil, Danish Kings of England, and Australian railways. Which superfan will hoist the Big Brass Mug?
33. Battle of the Duds
Aired 1 December 2021 • 30 min
It's the Battle of the Duds! Fan favourites Miles, Nick, Lisa and Ash get one more crack at taking home Tom Gleeson's Big Brass Mug with their special topics: Mazda MX-5, Sir Donald Bradman, Kate Ceberano, and the clarinet.
34. Vintage Synthesizers, Dance Academy, Neil Armstrong & Sierra Leone
Aired 8 December 2021 • 30 min
Tom Gleeson hosts a clash of epic proportions on Hard Quiz! Where else would you see vintage synthesizers go head-to-head with Dance Academy, Neil Armstrong, and Sierra Leone? Nowhere, that's where!
35. Billy Idol, The Witcher, Stephen King's IT & '80s and '90s supermodels
Aired 15 December 2021 • 30 min
Four contestants vie for the Hard Quiz Big Brass Mug, with their various specialty topics of Billy Idol, The Witcher, Stephen King's IT, and '80s and '90s supermodels put to the test. It's time to play HARD!