Everyone knows someone who can do a spot-on Guido Hatzis impression — or at least tries to. For anyone who grew up with Australian radio in the late 90s and early 2000s, this fictional Greek-Australian character was an unmistakable voice on the dial, known for outrageous prank calls and a thick accent that became a cult staple.
Character type: Comic character ·
Created by: Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller ·
Voice actor: Tony Moclair ·
Most popular call: The Plumber (1.6M views) ·
YouTube subscribers: 11.2K
Quick snapshot
- Tony Moclair – Australian comedian (Wikipedia)
- Julian Schiller – co-creator (Wikipedia)
Behind the quick stats, a surprising amount of craft went into building a character that still resonates today. Here’s the full picture on the man, the myth, and the prank calls.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Guido Hatzis |
| Character Type | Comic character |
| Creators | Tony Moclair, Julian Schiller |
| Voice Actor | Tony Moclair |
| Nationality | Greek-Australian |
| Notable For | Prank calls |
| YouTube Subscribers | 11.2K |
| Popular Video | The Plumber (1.6M views) |
What is Guido Hatzis known for?
His prank calls
- Guido Hatzis is a fictional Greek-Australian comic character (Wikipedia).
- The character is best known for prank calls made on Australian radio (Wikipedia).
- Most calls center on outrageous claims about appearance, abilities, and Greek stereotypes (Wikipedia).
His persona
- The character is often a plumber or makes absurd service requests (Australia Insight).
- Guido’s accent and bluntness are signature elements (Wikipedia).
- The persona relies on absurd confidence and a distinct Greek-Australian dialect (Wikipedia).
His catchphrases
- Common phrases include variations of “Do not talk over me” and “Whatever…” (Wikipedia – Do Not Talk Over Me).
- The album titles themselves became catchphrases for fans (Wikipedia – Whatever…).
The character’s prank call format was never groundbreaking as comedy goes — but the specific blend of Greek-Australian identity, deadpan delivery, and the absurd premise of a plumber who can’t actually fix anything turned Guido from a bit into a lasting cult figure. The simplicity is the secret.
The pattern: Guido Hatzis’s enduring appeal rests on a simple, deadpan absurdist premise rather than complex setups, proving that consistency can outlast any punchline.
Who created Guido Hatzis?
Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller
- Guido Hatzis was created by Australian comedians Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller (Wikipedia).
- Tony Moclair voices the character (Wikipedia).
- Moclair took the surname Hatzis from Chris Hatzis, a fellow broadcaster and actor (Wikipedia).
Origin of the character
- The character first appeared on the Triple M radio program Crud (Wikipedia).
- Chris Hatzis, Julian Schiller, and Tony Moclair were alumni of Melbourne’s 3RRR Breakfasters (Wikipedia).
- The character was developed during Moclair and Schiller’s radio partnership (Reef Brief).
The implication: this wasn’t a carefully plotted studio character — it emerged organically from a radio partnership between two comedians who already had a shared language. That spontaneity is exactly what made the calls feel so genuine.
What are the best Guido Hatzis calls?
The Plumber
- “The Plumber” is the most popular Guido Hatzis call, with over 1.6 million views on YouTube (YouTube).
- An article from Daily Mail described the call as a classic and said it had attracted 1.2 million views since being posted nine years earlier (Daily Mail).
- The call involves Guido pretending to be a plumber and making absurd claims about his abilities (Australia Insight).
Breakdancing injury
- “Breakdancing Injury” is another popular call that showcases Guido’s outrageous persona (YouTube).
- The call involves Guido claiming an injury from breakdancing while making a service call (YouTube).
Tractor
- “Tractor” is one of the best-known calls and a fan favorite (YouTube).
- It features Guido’s signature blend of absurdity and deadpan delivery (YouTube).
The numbers on these calls are modest by today’s internet standards — but for a character created on radio in the 90s, commanding over a million views per call nearly 25 years later is a rare feat. Most radio bits don’t survive the switchboard.
For listeners exploring the library, the quality across calls reveals a character built for longevity, not just a single viral moment.
Is Guido Hatzis a real person?
Fictional character
- Guido Hatzis is a fictional character, not a real person (Wikipedia).
- The character is a comic creation played by Tony Moclair (Wikipedia).
Confusion with real plumber
- The character is often mistaken for a real plumber because of the realistic call format (Australia Insight).
- The prank-call format often involves Guido pretending to be a plumber or making absurd service requests (Australia Insight).
The pattern: the more convincing the prank, the more likely someone believes it’s real. For a character that was never marketed as an actor or real person, the confusion highlights Moclair’s immersive performance.
What nationality is Tony Moclair?
Australian comedian
- Tony Moclair is an Australian comedian (Wikipedia).
- He co-created Guido Hatzis with Julian Schiller (Wikipedia).
- A 2024 podcast episode interviewed Moclair as “the man behind” Guido Hatzis (Apple Podcasts).
Career
- Moclair’s career spans radio, comedy, and voice acting (Wikipedia).
- A 2024 feature described Guido as a “pranking Greek legend” and included a new prank-call segment (Spotify).
- Despite listener requests, Moclair has said he has no plans to revive Guido in a major way (Daily Mail).
“I have no plans to revive Guido in a major way.”
— Tony Moclair, via Daily Mail (Daily Mail)
Why this matters: Moclair’s decision not to revive Guido suggests the character works best in its original context. Forcing a comeback might break the spell that made it so effective in the first place.
What is Guido Hatzis’s cultural impact?
One Reddit user on r/AustralianNostalgia called Guido “the second most famous Greek Australian after Con the Fruiterer” (Reddit). The comparison is apt — both characters used stereotype with affection, and both became cultural shorthand.
“The second most famous Greek Australian after Con the Fruiterer.”
— Reddit user, r/AustralianNostalgia (Reddit)
A 2023 article in Greek City Times asked “Whatever happened to the Greek Adonis Guido Hatzis?” and identified Moclair as the creator and voice (Greek City Times). A follow-up in 2024 confirmed that Moclair and Schiller created two ARIA-winning Guido albums: Do Not Talk Over Me and Whatever (Greek City Times). The ARIA Awards past winners page lists Guido Hatzis as a 2000 winner (ARIA Awards), confirming the character’s official industry recognition.
The trade-off: Guido Hatzis never crossed into mainstream American or British comedy, which limited his global reach. But for Australian audiences, that regional specificity is exactly what made him feel authentic. The character never had to be big — he just had to be right.
For a character born on Australian radio, regional specificity was the key to Guido Hatzis’s authenticity, proving that a focused audience can yield a lasting legacy.
Frequently asked questions
How did Guido Hatzis become popular?
Guido Hatzis became popular through prank calls on the Triple M radio program Crud, created by Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller (Wikipedia).
What is Guido Hatzis’s catchphrase?
His most famous catchphrases are “Do not talk over me” and “Whatever…”, which also became album titles (Wikipedia – Do Not Talk Over Me).
Is Guido Hatzis on Spotify?
Yes, Guido Hatzis calls and albums are available on Spotify (Spotify).
What does “Moussaka” refer to in Guido calls?
“Moussaka” is a running gag in several prank calls, referencing the Greek dish as part of the character’s stereotypical Greek-Australian identity (Wikipedia).
Why is Guido Hatzis associated with plumbers?
The most popular prank call involves Guido pretending to be a plumber, which became his defining bit (YouTube).
How many Guido Hatzis videos are there?
There are dozens of prank call videos on YouTube, with “The Plumber” being the most viewed at over 1.6 million views (YouTube).
Does Guido Hatzis have a Twitter account?
Guido Hatzis has a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, but there is no verified Twitter account (Facebook).
Related reading
- Do Not Talk Over Me – The debut Guido Hatzis album
- Whatever… – The second Guido Hatzis album
For Australian comedy fans, the legacy of Guido Hatzis proves that Tony Moclair and Julian Schiller’s radio-studio creation remains a benchmark for character-driven prank calls, outlasting big-budget productions through sheer consistency and authenticity.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.