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In a calm neighborhood of the Irish capital, a man stands outside his home, wearing a tank top and expressing his concerns. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. Less noticeable,” says the main character, staring into the darkness. “Circumstances have evolved and now I feel like unless I take action, I’ll just carry on in this minor, harmless existence.” His friend Paul, Leonard’s best and only friend, considers these words. “Nothing wrong with that,” he answers, his bathrobe flapping gently. “Superior to striving for recognition and causing harm instead.”

For those tired by the bluster and fast pace of today’s TV offerings, this series steps in like a foil blanket with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

Like its quiet characters, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-episode show written by the writing duo, inspired by the novelist’s quiet 2019 novel – casts a critical eye at modern life; looking disapprovingly above its eyewear on everything in the way of disturbances, abrupt changes or – heaven forfend – an abundance of ambition. This show on the contrary, a celebration of shyness; a quiet celebration for those satisfied to pootle around away from attention. However. Leonard (another uniquely quirky performance from Alex Lawther) feels restless. He senses a creeping “desire to unlock the doors and windows of my life … a little.” The loss of his beloved mother has pulled the carpet out from under him and Leonard, a writer for others, now realizes doubting the choices that have brought him to where he is (unattached; sporting facial hair; working on a range of kids' reference books for a man who signs off messages with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

And so Leonard begins on a journey to find happiness, with the slightly bolder friend Paul (the actor) functioning as his trusted friend, life coach and partner in a recurring gaming session functioning as both discussion (“Is the pool warm from kids relieving themselves, or do kids pee in it since it's warm?”) and refuge.

(How did Paul get his nickname? It's unclear. The source of this name seems forgotten to the mists of time. Perhaps he previously devoured some food in record time, or responded to a tense moment by panic-peeling several snacks by biting into them).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a new colleague (the performer), a fresh lively colleague who cheerily offers to kill Leonard’s appalling boss (the actor) at a fire practice. The swift movement audible represents Leonard's calm life experiencing a revolution.

Elsewhere during the opening installment of the comedy not heavily plotted and more on what the under-30s could describe as “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the consistently great the actor), a tired character who secretly watches, records then replays trivia competitions to amaze his loving spouse using his trivia skills.

Shepherding us through all this subtle warmth there is a voiceover who closely resembles – and, indeed, very much is – Julia Roberts. Truly, Julia Roberts. If you are thinking, “surely the inclusion of a big-name celebrity contradicts the series’ unshowy MO and starts off as just a distraction?” you're right. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and phrases such as “Leonard’s problem is that he lacks a look of sudden insight” assist in making sure that first reservations give way if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

But that’s enough grumbling for now. The series' spirit has good intentions: which is “resting on a bench next to the Detectorists, indicating its preferred bird.” It’s a series that moves gently in comfortable attire, sometimes gazing upward toward the sky, at other times looking at its feet, serenely certain that no experience is in life as cheering as passing time alongside close companions.

Open the doors and windows of your life, just a bit, and let it in.