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In a calm area of the city, an individual stands outside his home, dressed in a sleeveless jumper and expressing his concerns. “I notice I'm becoming more silent. Less noticeable,” states the protagonist, gazing into the darkness. “Circumstances have evolved and now it seems without a change, my life will proceed in this simple, peaceful routine.” Hungry Paul, Leonard’s best and only friend, reflects on the idea. “That's perfectly fine,” he replies, his dressing gown moving in the breeze. “Preferable to attempting to leave an impact only to wind up defacing it.”

For anyone exhausted by the bluster and rat-tat-tat of modern television terrain, this series arrives like a cozy wrap and a comforting beverage of a sweet cordial.

Similar to its harmless protagonists, this comedy – a six-episode comedy created by its authors, inspired by the novelist’s quiet story – looks disapprovingly toward today's world; gazing critically above its eyewear at anything related to disturbances, sudden movements or – perish the thought – too much drive. The program is, instead, an ode to introversion; a gentle tribute to people content to amble along below the parapet. But. He (one more uniquely quirky performance by the actor) feels restless. He feels a growing “desire to unlock the doors and windows of my life … a little.” The recent death of his beloved mother has yanked the floor out from under him and the 32-year-old, a ghost writer, now feels questioning the choices which led him to his current situation (single; defensively moustached; creating several children’s encyclopedias for a man who concludes emails with the phrase “goodbye for now”).

Therefore Leonard begins an exploration for emotional fulfilment, with the slightly bolder Paul (Laurie Kynaston) serving as his confidante, mentor and ally in a recurring game night functioning as both debate (“Is the water heated from kids relieving themselves, or do children urinate as it's heated?”) and sanctuary.

(Why “Hungry” Paul? No idea. The origin of the moniker seems forgotten in mystery. It could be that Paul once ate some food very fast, or reacted to an awkward situation by hastily opening several snacks with his teeth).

Entering Leonard's quiet life bursts Shelley (the actress), a new energetic co-worker who happily suggests to kill his terrible supervisor (the character) in a workplace safety exercise. The swift movement you can hear signals Leonard's peaceful routine experiencing a revolution.

In another part in the first episode of a series focused less on story and more on what the under-30s might call “atmosphere”, we are introduced to Hungry Paul’s dad (the brilliant Lorcan Cranitch), a tired character who covertly observes, records then replays television game programs to impress his adoring wife through his fact recall.

Shepherding the audience throughout this subtle warmth we hear a narrator that is unmistakably – and actually is – Julia Roberts. Indeed, the star. In case you're considering, “certainly the inclusion of such a famous actor is at odds with the series’ unshowy MO and at first acts merely as a distraction?” that's accurate. However, Roberts does a good job, and dialogue for example “The issue with Leonard is that he lacks a look of sudden insight” contribute to ensuring that first reservations fade if not full admiration, then certainly understanding.

But that’s enough grumbling at this time. Leonard and Hungry Paul’s heart is in the right place: the right place being “resting on a bench alongside similar shows, showing its favourite duck.” The program that strolls leisurely wearing its simple clothes, sometimes gazing upward into space, at other times looking at its slippers, calmly assured that there is nothing in life as cheering as spending time with close companions.

Open the doors and windows in your existence, a little, and allow it entry.