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In a calm area of the Irish capital, an individual is standing on the pavement, sporting a vest and sharing his feelings. “I notice my voice is fading. Less noticeable,” remarks Leonard, looking toward the stars. “Events have unfolded and currently I believe unless I take action, my life will proceed in this simple, peaceful routine.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best companion, considers this statement. “That's perfectly fine,” he replies, his dressing gown swaying with the wind. “Preferable to striving for recognition and ending up damaging things.”

For anyone tired by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of today’s TV landscape, this series arrives similar to a foil blanket with a hot drink of blackcurrant juice.

In line with its harmless protagonists, this comedy – a six-episode program developed by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, adapted from the author’s subtle book – looks disapprovingly at modern life; looking critically above its spectacles on everything that involves unnecessary noise, sudden movements or – perish the thought – excessive aspiration. This show rather, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute of those content to wander out of the spotlight. However. Leonard (one more distinctly original performance from Alex Lawther) feels restless. He senses a growing “desire to unlock the entryways of my life … just a bit.” The loss of his parent has pulled the carpet from under his slippers and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now realizes questioning the decisions that directed him to this point (alone; defensively moustached; working on multiple kids' reference books for a man who concludes correspondence using the words “see you later”).

Thus Leonard begins himself on a quest to find happiness, alongside his more outgoing friend Paul (Laurie Kynaston) serving as his confidante, life coach and co-conspirator during their regular game night which acts as symposium (“Does the pool feel warm due to children urinating, or do kids pee in it since it's warm?”) and safe space.

(How did Paul get his nickname? No idea. The origin of this name seems forgotten in history. Maybe the postal worker on one occasion consumed a sandwich unusually quickly, or answered to a socially fraught incident by nervously peeling several snacks by biting into them).

Entering Leonard's quiet life cartwheels a new colleague (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), a fresh lively associate who happily suggests to kill the awful manager (Paul Reid) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement noticeable signals Leonard's peaceful routine undergoing a shake-up.

In another part during the opening installment of the comedy focused less on story and centered around what a modern audience may refer to as “mood”, we are introduced to Paul's father (the consistently great Lorcan Cranitch), a worn-out individual who secretly watches, saves and reviews trivia competitions to dazzle his devoted partner using his trivia skills.

Shepherding us amidst this subtle warmth we hear a narrator who closely resembles – and actually is – the famous actress. Indeed, the star. In case you're considering, “certainly the use of a big-name celebrity is at odds with the program's low-key style and at first acts merely as an interruption?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, Roberts acquits herself well, and dialogue for example “Leonard’s problem is his absence of an expression of discovery” assist in making sure that early misgivings give way if not quite to appreciation, then at least acceptance.

No more criticism at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart is well-intentioned: that place is “sitting on a park bench alongside similar shows, indicating the duck it loves.” The program that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, sometimes gazing upward at the stars, sometimes downward at its slippers, calmly assured that no experience is on Earth as cheering as spending time in the company of close companions.

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