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In a peaceful suburb of the city, an individual can be found in his driveway, dressed in a tank top and expressing his thoughts. “It seems like myself getting quieter. Less noticeable,” remarks the main character, staring up at the night sky. “Circumstances have evolved and now I feel like unless I take action, I’ll just carry on in this simple, peaceful routine.” His friend Paul, his closest and only friend, considers the idea. “There's no harm in that,” he responds, his bathrobe flapping gently. “Better than attempting to leave an impact and causing harm instead.”

For those exhausted by the chaos and rat-tat-tat of modern television terrain, this series steps in like a cozy wrap and warming mug of Ribena.

Like its quiet characters, the series – a six-episode program developed by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson, based on Rónán Hession’s quiet 2019 novel – casts a critical eye on contemporary society; peering skeptically above its eyewear toward anything related to loud sounds, sudden movements or – heaven forfend – an abundance of ambition. This show rather, a celebration of shyness; a gentle tribute to people happy to pootle around away from attention. However. The character (one more uniquely quirky performance by the actor) is uneasy. He feels a creeping “urge to throw open the entryways in my existence … just a bit.” The passing of his parent has pulled the carpet out from under him and Leonard, an anonymous author, now realizes questioning the choices that directed him to his current situation (single; defensively moustached; creating a range of children’s encyclopedias for a boss who concludes correspondence saying “goodbye for now”).

Thus Leonard begins on a journey for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder friend Paul (the performer) serving as his trusted friend, guide and ally in a recurring game night that serves both as discussion (“Does the pool feel warm because kids pee in it, or do children urinate because it’s warm?”) and refuge.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? The reason is unknown. The origin of the moniker is shrouded to the mists of time. Maybe the postal worker once ate a sandwich in record time, or responded to a tense moment by panic-peeling four scotch eggs using his teeth).

Arriving in Leonard's calm existence bursts a vibrant character (the actress), a new spring-loaded colleague who lightheartedly proposes to eliminate Leonard’s appalling boss (the character) in a workplace safety exercise. That whooshing sound audible represents Leonard's calm life being turned upside down.

In another part in the first episode of this program focused less on story and centered around what younger viewers could describe as “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Hungry Paul’s dad (the brilliant Lorcan Cranitch), a tired character who privately views, tapes and rewatches daytime quiz shows to impress his adoring wife using his trivia skills.

Shepherding us throughout this subtle warmth is a narrator that sounds very much like – and actually is – Julia Roberts. Truly, the celebrity. In case you're considering, “undoubtedly the use of such a famous actor contradicts the program's low-key style and initially serves only as a distraction?” you're right. Nevertheless, the actress performs admirably, and phrases for example “Leonard’s problem is the missing a ‘eureka’ face” contribute to ensuring that initial doubts fade if not full admiration, then at least acceptance.

Enough complaining at this time. The show's core is well-intentioned: that place is “located on a seat next to the Detectorists, indicating the duck it loves.” The program that ambles along wearing its simple clothes, sometimes gazing upward into space, occasionally down at its slippers, serenely certain that nothing is in life as uplifting as spending time with dear pals.

Throw open the portals within your world, a little, and welcome it inside.