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In a quiet neighborhood of the Irish capital, an individual stands in his driveway, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and expressing his thoughts. “It seems like I'm becoming more silent. More invisible,” states the main character, looking up at the night sky. “Events have unfolded and currently I feel like without a change, I’ll just carry on in this simple, peaceful routine.” His friend Paul, his only companion, ponders the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he answers, his dressing gown swaying in the breeze. “Better than striving for recognition and causing harm instead.”

For viewers weary by the noise and fast pace of modern television landscape, Leonard and Hungry Paul arrives like a foil blanket with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

Similar to its gentle leads, Leonard and Hungry Paul – a six-part show written by the writing duo, based on the novelist’s understated story – takes a dim view toward today's world; looking disapprovingly above its eyewear toward anything in the way of disturbances, quick actions or – goodness forbid – an abundance of ambition. This show rather, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute for those satisfied to amble along out of the spotlight. But. He (another sublimely idiosyncratic turn by the actor) feels restless. He senses a growing “desire to unlock the doors and windows in my existence … just a bit.” The loss of his mother has yanked the floor from under his slippers and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now realizes questioning the choices that have brought him to his current situation (alone; defensively moustached; creating a range of kids' reference books for a boss who ends emails with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

Thus Leonard begins on a journey to find happiness, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (the actor) functioning as his trusted friend, guide and partner in a weekly gaming session functioning as both symposium (“Does the pool feel warm because kids pee in it, or is it that kids pee because it’s warm?”) and refuge.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The source of this name seems forgotten in mystery. Perhaps he previously devoured a snack unusually quickly, or reacted to a tense moment by hastily opening some food items using his teeth).

Into Leonard’s gentle world bursts a new colleague (the performer), a fresh energetic associate who happily suggests to eliminate the awful manager (the character) during the office fire drill. The swift movement audible is Leonard’s gentle world experiencing a revolution.

In another part in the initial show of the comedy focused less on story and centered around what the under-30s might call “vibes”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the consistently great Lorcan Cranitch), a worn-out individual who privately views, records then replays trivia competitions to dazzle his adoring wife with his general knowledge.

Guiding us amidst this subtle warmth there is a voiceover who closely resembles – and, indeed, very much is – the famous actress. Yes, the star. In case you're considering, “certainly the use of such a famous actor is at odds with the program's low-key style and starts off as just an interruption?” you're right. Nevertheless, Roberts does a good job, and dialogue like “Leonard's challenge is the missing a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that initial doubts fade if not full admiration, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism for now. The series' spirit has good intentions: which is “sitting on a park bench alongside similar shows, showing its preferred bird.” This is a show that ambles along in comfortable attire, occasionally looking up at the stars, at other times looking at its slippers, calmly assured that there is nothing on Earth as cheering as spending time alongside close companions.

Throw open the portals of your life, a little, and let it in.