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In a peaceful area of Dublin, a man is standing in his driveway, wearing a sleeveless jumper and voicing his feelings. “I notice myself getting quieter. More invisible,” states Leonard, staring up at the night sky. “Events have unfolded and at this point it seems if I don’t do something, my life will proceed in this minor, harmless existence.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best confidant, reflects on this statement. “That's perfectly fine,” he responds, his robe swaying with the wind. “Preferable to attempting to leave an impact and ending up damaging things.”

For those tired by the chaos and rat-tat-tat of modern television terrain, this series steps in as a cozy wrap with a hot drink of Ribena.

Like its gentle leads, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-part program written by the writing duo, based on the novelist’s subtle story – looks disapprovingly on contemporary society; gazing critically above its spectacles on everything that involves unnecessary noise, abrupt changes or – perish the thought – too much drive. The series is, instead, a celebration of shyness; a quiet celebration for those happy to wander away from attention. And yet. The character (one more uniquely quirky performance from Alex Lawther) is uneasy. He senses a creeping “urge to throw open the doors and windows within my world … just a bit.” The loss of his beloved mother has pulled the carpet away from his feet and Leonard, a writer for others, now feels reconsidering the choices which led him to this point (single; sporting facial hair; working on multiple children’s encyclopedias for a boss who ends messages using the words “goodbye for now”).

Therefore Leonard launches on a journey for personal satisfaction, alongside his more outgoing Hungry Paul (the performer) acting as his close companion, mentor and co-conspirator during their regular game night functioning as both discussion (“Does the pool feel warm due to children urinating, or is it that kids pee since it's warm?”) and sanctuary.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? No idea. The beginning of the moniker seems forgotten in mystery. Perhaps he on one occasion consumed some food very fast, or responded to a socially fraught incident by hastily opening several snacks with his teeth).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence comes a vibrant character (the actress), a fresh lively co-worker who happily suggests to get rid of the awful manager (the character) during the office fire drill. The swift movement noticeable represents Leonard's calm life being turned upside down.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of the comedy not heavily plotted and centered around what a modern audience may refer to as “vibes”, viewers encounter Hungry Paul’s dad (the ever-wonderful the actor), a worn-out individual who privately views, records then replays trivia competitions to amaze his adoring wife using his trivia skills.

Guiding us through all this gentle kindness is a narrator that sounds very much like – and actually is – Julia Roberts. Truly, the celebrity. In case you're considering, “certainly the presence of a big-name celebrity is at odds with the program's low-key style and initially serves only as an interruption?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and phrases for example “Leonard’s problem is his absence of a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that early misgivings yield if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism at this time. The show's core has good intentions: the right place being “sitting on a park bench in the company of gentle comedies, showing the duck it loves.” It’s a series that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, sometimes gazing upward toward the sky, occasionally down at its slippers, calmly assured that no experience is in the world as heartening as spending time in the company of dear pals.

Throw open the portals within your world, slightly, and let it in.