IN JANUARY Will Self began a 50km walking tour of the Large Hadron Collider at Cern near Geneva for BBC Radio 4.

He was invited by leading physicist Akram Khan to "feel the wonder" of particle physics.

It wasn’t that long ago, says Will, that leading physicists regarded molecules as a mathematical illusion, and today gravitons remain a hypothetical concept.

The author, journalist and political commentator will be at Bradford Literature festival asking whether hunting for particles or theoretical dimensions is rather like chasing mythical beasts – and therefore is a graviton akin to a unicorn?

Will shall will be joined by Professor Khan, a world-leading researcher in fundamental and applied science, in an in-depth discussion about the philosophy of particle physics, and belief as the basis for both physics and metaphysics.

The event, inspired by Self Orbits Cern, the radio series based on the author’s tour of the Hadron Collider, will investigate these questions.

Will Self is the author of ten novels, five collections of shorter fiction, three novellas and five collections of non-fiction writing. His work has been translated into 22 languages, and his novel Umbrella was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He is a regular contributor to national newspaper and other publications, and has been a regular on TV shows Have I Got News for You and Shooting Stars. His novels include Cock and Bull, The Book of Dave and Umbrella. His latest book is Shark.

l Akram Khan and Will Self will be discussing The Philosophy of Particle Physics at the Midland Hotel’s Princes Ballroom on Wednesday, May 20 at 7.30pm.