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In a quiet area of the city, an individual can be found in his driveway, sporting a tank top and voicing his thoughts. “It seems like myself getting quieter. Less noticeable,” says the main character, looking up at the night sky. “Circumstances have evolved and at this point it seems without a change, my life will proceed in this quiet, unremarkable life.” His friend Paul, his only confidant, considers the idea. “Nothing wrong with that,” he answers, his dressing gown swaying in the breeze. “Preferable to striving for recognition only to wind up defacing it.”

For viewers tired by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of modern television terrain, Leonard and Hungry Paul comes similar to a foil blanket with a hot drink of Ribena.

Like its gentle leads, this comedy – a half-dozen installment show written by its authors, adapted from Rónán Hession’s subtle story – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; peering critically through its spectacles toward anything in the way of unnecessary noise, quick actions or – heaven forfend – excessive aspiration. The program is, instead, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute to people content to amble along below the parapet. However. Leonard (a further sublimely idiosyncratic portrayal from the star) is unsettled. He feels an increasing “desire to unlock the openings in my existence … a little.” The passing of his beloved mother has whisked the rug from under his slippers and this young man, an anonymous author, now finds himself reconsidering the choices that directed him to where he is (unattached; sporting facial hair; working on a range of children’s encyclopedias for a boss who concludes messages using the words “goodbye for now”).

And so Leonard begins an exploration for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder Hungry Paul (the actor) acting as his trusted friend, mentor and ally in a recurring game night that serves both as debate (“Is the water heated due to children urinating, or do children urinate as it's heated?”) and safe space.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? No idea. The origin of the moniker seems forgotten to the mists of time. Perhaps he previously devoured some food in record time, or answered to an awkward situation by hastily opening four scotch eggs with his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world comes a new colleague (the actress), a new energetic colleague who happily suggests to eliminate Leonard’s appalling boss (the character) at a fire practice. That whooshing sound audible represents Leonard's calm life experiencing a revolution.

In other scenes in the initial show of this program not heavily plotted and centered around what a modern audience could describe as “mood”, we are introduced to Hungry Paul’s dad (the consistently great the performer), a worn-out individual who privately views, records then replays television game programs to amaze his loving spouse with his general knowledge.

Leading the audience amidst this gentle kindness is a narrator that sounds very much like – and truly is – Julia Roberts. Yes, Julia Roberts. If you are thinking, “surely the presence of such a famous actor clashes with the series’ unshowy MO and initially serves only as a distraction?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, Roberts acquits herself well, and phrases for example “The issue with Leonard is that he lacks a ‘eureka’ face” help ensure that first reservations fade if not full admiration, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism for now. The series' spirit has good intentions: that place is “resting on a bench next to the Detectorists, indicating the duck it loves.” It’s a series that strolls leisurely in comfortable attire, at times staring at the stars, at other times looking toward the ground, quietly confident that there is nothing on Earth as uplifting as passing time with good friends.

Throw open the portals in your existence, a little, and welcome it inside.