Heard the one about the scientist and the comic?

Radio presenter Richard Bacon is to probe the science of comedy in a live broadcast from the National Museum of Scotland this week.

The broadcaster and former Blue Peter presenter will host his Radio 5 Live show as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The show, featuring stand-up and writer Robin Ince and evolutionary anthropologist Professor Robin Dunbar, promises to “reveal what happens to us when we laugh, and how we do it”, a spokeswoman said.

Australia’s leading maths communicator, Simon Pampena, will explore why Britons are so bad at maths on the show, which has 1.6 million weekly listeners.

The science festival runs until 15 April. On Wednesday the leading climate scientist Professor James Hansen delivers the Edinburgh Medal address.