Art is a private thing, the artist makes it for himself; a comprehensible work is the product of a journalist. We need works that are strong, straight, precise, and forever beyond understanding.

Making his initial impact as a critic at The Observer (1954–58 1960–63) he praised Osborne's Look Back in Anger (1956) and encouraged the emerging wave of British theatrical talent. An opponent of theatre censorship he was the first person to say 'fuck' on British television which was very controversial at the time.