Can laughter lead to love?

Everyone likes to laugh their way into bed, don’t they? Or is that a complete myth? Is having a good sense of humour a dating deal-breaker for you?

How important is humour in a relationship?

My girlfriends and I are split on this tricky topic. My friend Kate says she could date anyone if they make her belly laugh until it hurts, even if they have bad breath, goofy teeth and terrible clothes. Yes, really. She once went out with a guy called Joe, who she apparently felt instantly bonded with after a few of his best gags. He also, I should mention, had a girly perm, weird ‘tache and smelt of garlic.

My other mate Jen, meanwhile, claims it’s a myth that women love funny men and would walk out of a date straightaway if she didn’t fancy her date, even if their jokes were on par with those dished out by a love child combo of Russell Brand, Lee Evans and Michael McIntyre.

Apparently having a sense of humour does work wonders. James Corden once claimed: ‘My weight was never a concern for me. I could always talk to them and make them laugh, so they tended to overlook my physical imperfections.’

There has been various studies on the subject. Back in 2009 one said that women think funny men are smarter and more honest than their humourless counterparts. Funnier men were also seen as a better catch for a long-term relationship, according to the findings. While women appear to prefer a man who makes them laugh, the psychologists say that previous studies have shown that the same does not hold true when the sexes are reversed – and men are not more attracted to funny girls.

This year a study by Stanford University in the US found that women are genetically hardwired to find a sense of humour attractive and like men who make them chuckle due to evolutionary differences. In line with the 2009 study they found that women’s brains show greater activity than men’s in reward-related regions in response to humour.

Hmm, we’re still not completely convinced. What do you think Lovestruckers? Is a good sense of humour the most important attribute in a new partner? Tell us what you think @lovestruck