Leonard and Hungry Paul

Leonard and Hungry Paul is an Irish comedy-drama television series for RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland. Released on 17 October 2025, it is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Rónán Hession. The series is narrated by Julia Roberts and follows the quiet, introspective lives of two friends navigating small but meaningful changes in suburban Dublin. It combines gentle humour with character-driven storytelling, emphasising friendship, personal growth and the subtle drama of ordinary life.

Leonard and Hungry Paul
Genre	Comedy drama
Based on	Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession
Written by	Richie Conroy Mark Hodkinson
Directed by	Andrew Chaplin
Starring	Alex Lawther Laurie Kynaston Jamie-Lee O'Donnell
Narrated by	Julia Roberts
Country of origin	Republic of Ireland United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producers	Tristan Orpen Lynch Aoife O’Sullivan Adam Barth Kate McColgan Wally Hall David Harari Morwin Schmookler Ross Boucher George Rush
Production companies	Subotica Avalon Screen Ireland
Original release
Network	RTÉ BBC Northern Ireland
Release	17 October 2025 (2025-10-17) – present

Premise

Leonard and Hungry Paul are two friends who bond over board games in suburban Dublin.^[1] Leonard is a reserved writer of children’s encyclopaedias who has lived a largely solitary life, while Hungry Paul is more easygoing and content with casual employment. When Leonard experiences a personal loss, the pair navigate subtle changes in their routines, relationships, and social lives. The series explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and the quiet value of ordinary life, balancing gentle humour with introspective character development. The narrative focuses on small, meaningful moments rather than dramatic events, emphasising character interactions and emotional nuance.

Cast

• Alex Lawther as Leonard
• Laurie Kynaston as Hungry Paul
• Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as Shelley
• Julia Roberts as Narrator (voice)
• Helen Behan as Helen
• Lorcan Cranitch as Peter
• Niamh Branigan as Grace
• Kathleen Reen as Mrs. Hawthorn
• Paul Reid as Mark Baxter
• David O'Reilly as Greg
• Tony Cantwell as Radio DJ (voice)
• Charlotte McCurry as Rhona
• Amelia Crowley as Elizabeth, Leonard's mother
• Leon Foy Hebib as Young Leonard

Production

The six-part series was adapted by Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson from the 2019 novel Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession.^[2] It is directed by Andrew Chaplin and produced by Subotica for BBC Northern Ireland in association with BBC Comedy, Screen Ireland and RTÉ. Avalon serves as co-producer and handles international distribution.^[3]

The cast is led by Alex Lawther as Leonard, Laurie Kynaston as Hungry Paul, and Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as Shelley. Supporting cast includes Helen Behan and Lorcan Cranitch.^[4] The series is narrated by Julia Roberts, who said: "Leonard and Hungry Paul is such a magical book. I am delighted to be a tiny part of this novel becoming a television series."^[5]

Filming took place in Dublin in May 2025, with first-look images and promotional material released in August 2025.^[6][7]

Broadcast

The series aired on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer on 17 October 2025, and BBC Two on 20 October.^[8]

Reception

Chris Wasser in the Irish Independent described the show as "Beautiful, heartfelt television" and "Funny, charming and unexpectedly profound" with "more to say about life than most of the shows that clog up our evenings".^[9] Sarah Dempster in The Guardian gave the show four stars and implored readers to "0pen the doors and windows of your life a little, and let it in".^[10] Carol Midgeley in The Times said the series is "slight and undemanding. But it is strangely calming and immersive, offering little moments of profundity", as well as "written with great charm, a warming, relatable watch and a paean to the non-sharp-elbowed".^[11]