Sir Harold Hobson CBE, (4 August 1904 – 12 March 1992) was an English drama critic and author.
He attended Sheffield Grammar School, from where he gained a scholarship to Oriel College at Oxford University, graduating with a second-class degree in Modern History in 1928.
Hobson was the only drama critic to recognise the early Harold Pinter's talent as a dramatist[2] and wrote of The Birthday Party: "I am willing to risk whatever reputation I have as a judge of plays by saying ... that Mr Pinter, on the evidence of this work, possesses the most original, disturbing and arresting talent in theatrical London.
"[3] During his career, he was to champion many other new playwrights, especially John Osborne, Samuel Beckett and Tom Stoppard.
Hobson also wrote for Drama and The Listener and was a regular member of the BBC radio programme The Critics.