Upcoming BBC Series Leonard and Hungry Paul Releases First Look Images
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Last Updated on August 19, 2025 by Stefanie Hutson
It’s not every day that a novel this quiet and kind gets a screen adaptation—but Leonard and Hungry Paul is getting just that, with filming now underway on a six-episode BBC series. It's shaping up to be the gentlest TV series since Detectorists.
Based on Rónán Hession’s award-winning novel, the show follows two board-gaming friends in their thirties: Leonard, a ghostwriter of children’s encyclopedias, and Hungry Paul, a part-time postal worker who still lives at home. As they navigate a world that doesn’t always understand them, Leonard faces the loss of his mother, Hungry Paul prepares for his sister’s wedding, and both men begin to confront new and unfamiliar possibilities—including romance, loss, and personal growth.
Cast and Crew
Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World, ALIEN: EARTH) stars as Leonard, with Laurie Kynaston (Fool Me Once, The Sandman) playing Hungry Paul. Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls, Screw) plays Shelley, a woman who enters Leonard’s life at a turning point. Also appearing are Helen Behan, Lorcan Cranitch, Niamh Branigan, Paul Reid, Charlotte McCurry, and David O’Reilly.
The series is directed by Andrew Chaplin (Alma’s Not Normal, Smoggie Queens) and produced by Subotica for BBC Northern Ireland in association with BBC Comedy, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, and RTÉ. It is a co-production with Avalon, who will handle international distribution. Executive Producers include Tristan Orpen Lynch and Aoife O’Sullivan for Subotica, Adam Barth for Avalon, Kate McColgan for Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, and several others. Mary McKeagney and Emma Lawson are Commissioning Editors for the BBC.
Filming and Release Details
Filming took place in Dublin, with production continuing throughout May 2025. The series will include six 30-minute episodes and is expected to premiere later in 2025. No U.S. release details have been announced yet.
From Page to Screen
Rónán Hession’s novel, first published in 2019, was praised for its gentle humor and celebration of introversion, kindness, and life’s small pleasures. It was longlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize and the British Book Awards, and became a word-of-mouth favorite among readers and booksellers.
Hession shared his enthusiasm about the adaptation, saying: “I am delighted to see Leonard and Hungry Paul being adapted for the screen. It’s a real privilege as a writer to see my work being brought to life in a different creative form.”
Director Andrew Chaplin adds: “At a time when most shows involve dragons, detectives, or existential dread, Leonard and Hungry Paul takes a slower route—through kindness, the quiet gravity of small things, and the occasional game of backgammon.”
Check Out the Book
If you haven’t yet read the book, now’s the perfect time. Leonard and Hungry Paul is the debut novel of Irish author and musician Rónán Hession. It’s a quiet, witty story about two gentle men who live life at their own pace, exploring the beauty of everyday existence. Check it out HERE.
