Ananova:

Scientists have blended the features of 20 top comics to come up with the perfect face for comedy.

They concluded a round face, small forehead and wide nose, with soft feminine features, is most likely to make us laugh.

And the researchers, from Stirling University, reckon Ricky Gervais has the closest fit.

Gervais pronounced himself "shocked" by the results of the survey.

He said: "All these years I assumed my global success as a comedian was down to my acute observations, expert directorial rendering and consummate skills as a performer - turns out it's because I've got a fat girly face."

The findings emerged from tests carried out by Dr Anthony Little, a researcher in psychology.

The academic ran 179 different pictures of Britain's top 20 comedians, all taken from different angles, through a computer.

They included Peter Kay, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard, Jack Dee, Steve Coogan, Jasper Carrott, Roy Chubby Brown, Jo Brand and Dawn French.

Dr Little said: "The characteristics of a feminine face imply that the person may be agreeable and co-operative, which can be causal in our first impressions of comedians as being friendly and funny.

"In the same way that infants are pre-programmed to respond to the warmth and approachability of a mother's face, soft, feminine features put us at ease and encourage us to relax."