Filming starts in Dublin

Filming has begun on a new BBC comedy based on Rónán Hession’s novel Leonard and Hungry Paul.

The story follows two board-gaming friends meandering through leafy suburban life, with a cast that includes  Alex Lawther, Laurie Kynaston and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell.

Director Andrew Chaplin – who previously worked on Alma’s Not Normal and Smoggie Queens – said: ’At a time when most shows involve dragons, detectives, or existential dread, Leonard & Hungry Paul takes a slower route - through kindness, the quiet gravity of small things, and the occasional game of backgammon. Proof that not all heroes shout - some just know when to stay quiet.’

Hession said it was a ‘real privilege to see my work being brought to life in a different creative form’,with writers Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson adapting his book, which has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide.

When it was published in 2019, The Guardian’s review called it ‘a low-key look at the ordinary lives of two unremarkable men elevates the humdrum through wit and poignancy.’

The comedy is being shot in Dublin by independent production company Subotica in a co-production with Avalon.

It is being made for BBC Northern Ireland,  where commissioner Eddie Doyle said: ‘This series promises something special and is full of charm and poignant moments that encapsulate ordinary life. With a stellar cast bringing this acclaimed novel to the screen, it will make an exciting addition to BBC Northern Ireland’s offering this year.’

Published: 21 May 2025