Comic writer S.J. Perelman virtually defines a style of erudite New York humour associated with the New Yorker magazine.

Here Woody Allen profiles his comic genius, exploring his long career as a humourist and analysing his unique style, with the aid of admirers such as Bill Zinsser, Prudence Crowther, Roger Angell, Harold Evans and Denis Norden. Along with specially recorded readings from Perelman's work, there is archive of Perelman himself.

MUSIC & FACTUAL

Broadcast on Radio 4 in November 2005