Filling the void vacated by Jon Richardson And The Futurenauts for a podcast in which popular-science writers indulge a neurotic comedian’s technophobia, Future Tense sounds great in theory and is an easy, entertaining listen. But the initial six episodes lack ambition and haven’t fully nailed its concept. With the premise that comic Richard Ayoade and actor Warwick Davis have been invited to the Future Tense laboratory, stand-up and science broadcaster Helen Keen is their affable guide to the most important scientific advances.

Balanced between utopian and apocalyptic visions, the podcast variously explores robots, immortality, holidays, food, cars and relationships, with the impact of AI the recurring thread running through virtually every episode. Ostensibly, the set-up is that Davis is an open-minded embracer of new developments, mindful (on occasion) of how they might assist him with his dwarfism, while Ayoade is the instinctive sceptic. In practice these roles alternate, with the latter attracted to AI companions that will help him keep other people at arm’s length.

There’s an amusing running gag about Davis’ impeccable sci-fi screen credentials overshadowing Ayoade’s, while Radio 4 veteran Keen is the perfect booking. Knowledgeable and accessible, she’s adroit at engaging with Ayoade’s self-effacing, misanthropic shtick, as he dryly interjects humour into the trio’s chats with experts. These are generally well selected, even if their vested interests aren’t always rigorously interrogated. Distractingly though, Davis’ contributions are measurably fewer than his colleagues. There’s also little discussed that would be unfamiliar to anyone keeping even a casual eye on scientific breakthroughs, though you might expect future series of Future Tense to cover less obvious phenomena in greater depth.

All episodes of Future Tense are available now.