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In a quiet area of the Irish capital, an individual is standing on the pavement, wearing a sleeveless jumper and expressing his feelings. “I notice myself getting quieter. Less noticeable,” states the protagonist, gazing up at the night sky. “Circumstances have evolved and at this point I feel like if I don’t do something, my life will proceed in this quiet, unremarkable life.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best companion, ponders the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he answers, his dressing gown moving gently. “Superior to attempting to leave an impact and ending up damaging things.”

For viewers exhausted by the chaos and constant stimulation of today’s TV offerings, this series steps in similar to a warm cover with a hot drink of a sweet cordial.

Like its gentle leads, this comedy – a half-dozen installment comedy created by its authors, adapted from the author’s quiet book – takes a dim view toward today's world; gazing skeptically through its spectacles on everything that involves loud sounds, sudden movements or – goodness forbid – an abundance of ambition. This show on the contrary, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute to people content to amble along below the parapet. But. The character (one more uniquely quirky portrayal from Alex Lawther) is unsettled. He feels a growing “desire to unlock the entryways in my existence … slightly.” The loss of his parent has whisked the rug away from his feet and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now realizes reconsidering the paths which led him to this point (single; sporting facial hair; writing multiple educational volumes for an employer who ends correspondence using the words “see you later”).

Thus Leonard starts himself on a quest for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder friend Paul (the performer) functioning as his confidante, life coach and ally in a weekly board games evening that serves both as discussion (“Is the pool warm due to children urinating, or is it that kids pee since it's warm?”) and refuge.

(What's the origin of "Hungry" Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of this name seems forgotten to the mists of time. It could be that Paul previously devoured a snack in record time, or reacted to a socially fraught incident by nervously peeling four scotch eggs by biting into them).

Into Leonard’s gentle world cartwheels a vibrant character (the actress), a fresh energetic co-worker who happily suggests to eliminate his terrible supervisor (Paul Reid) at a fire practice. That whooshing sound noticeable signals Leonard's peaceful routine experiencing a revolution.

In another part in the first episode of this program not heavily plotted and more on what a modern audience could describe as “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the ever-wonderful the performer), a battered sofa of a man who privately views, saves and reviews television game programs to impress his devoted partner with his general knowledge.

Leading us throughout this gentle kindness we hear a narrator who closely resembles – and, indeed, very much is – the Hollywood icon. Truly, Julia Roberts. If you are thinking, “undoubtedly the inclusion of a big-name celebrity clashes with the show's modest approach and starts off as just a distraction?” that's accurate. However, the actress performs admirably, and lines such as “The issue with Leonard is his absence of a look of sudden insight” help ensure that initial doubts fade if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

But that’s enough grumbling currently. The series' spirit is well-intentioned: which is “located on a seat alongside similar shows, showing its favourite duck.” The program that moves gently in its sleeveless jumper, occasionally looking up toward the sky, at other times looking toward the ground, serenely certain that there is nothing in the world as uplifting as spending time in the company of dear pals.

Throw open the portals of your life, just a bit, and allow it entry.