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In a peaceful neighborhood of Dublin, a person stands outside his home, wearing a vest and expressing his thoughts. “I feel my voice is fading. Less noticeable,” says the protagonist, gazing into the darkness. “Events have unfolded and currently I feel like unless I take action, I will continue in this minor, harmless existence.” His friend Paul, Leonard’s best companion, reflects on this statement. “There's no harm in that,” he answers, his robe moving gently. “Preferable to striving for recognition and ending up damaging things.”

For those tired by the chaos and rat-tat-tat of modern television landscape, this series comes like a cozy wrap and a comforting beverage of blackcurrant juice.

In line with its harmless protagonists, this comedy – a half-dozen installment comedy created by its authors, inspired by the author’s quiet 2019 novel – looks disapprovingly at modern life; peering disapprovingly through its eyewear at anything that involves unnecessary noise, sudden movements or – heaven forfend – too much drive. The series on the contrary, a tribute to quiet people; a gentle tribute to people happy to wander below the parapet. However. Leonard (a further uniquely quirky turn from the star) feels restless. He feels an increasing “need to open the entryways of my life … just a bit.” The passing of his mother has whisked the rug out from under him and this young man, a writer for others, now feels reconsidering the choices that have brought him to where he is (unattached; sporting facial hair; writing multiple educational volumes for a boss who signs off emails using the words “ciao for now”).

And so Leonard launches on a journey to find happiness, alongside his more outgoing Paul (the performer) serving as his trusted friend, mentor and partner during their regular board games evening that serves both as symposium (“Is the pool warm due to children urinating, or is it that kids pee because it’s warm?”) and refuge.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? It's unclear. The origin of the moniker seems forgotten in history. Perhaps Paul once ate some food very fast, or responded to a socially fraught incident by hastily opening several snacks by biting into them).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence bursts a new colleague (the performer), a new energetic colleague who lightheartedly proposes to eliminate Leonard’s appalling boss (the actor) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement audible is Leonard’s gentle world being turned upside down.

In other scenes in the first episode of a series not heavily plotted and centered around what the under-30s might call “mood”, viewers encounter the older generation (the consistently great the performer), a battered sofa of a man who covertly observes, tapes and rewatches daytime quiz shows to impress his loving spouse with his general knowledge.

Leading us throughout this minor-key niceness is a narrator that is unmistakably – and, indeed, very much is – the Hollywood icon. Truly, the star. In case you're considering, “undoubtedly the presence of a big-name celebrity clashes with the program's low-key style and initially serves only as a distraction?” you would be correct. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and dialogue such as “Leonard’s problem is his absence of an expression of discovery” assist in making sure that early misgivings yield if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

No more criticism at this time. The series' spirit is well-intentioned: that place is “sitting on a park bench alongside similar shows, showing its favourite duck.” It’s a series that ambles along wearing its simple clothes, at times staring at the stars, sometimes downward at its feet, quietly confident that there is nothing in life as uplifting as passing time in the company of dear pals.

Open the doors and windows within your world, slightly, and let it in.