The Divine Comedy: On new music, love, loss and Timotheé Chalamet

As Neil Hannon prepares to release his 13th record as The Divine Comedy, he talks to Lauren Murphy about loss, writing music for Hollywood and the state of his ambition

Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy. Pic: Kevin Westenberg

Neil Hannon has a simple ambition. His new album, Rainy Sunday Afternoon, is his 13th release under the banner of The Divine Comedy — but fans needn’t worry about the now 54-year-old taking early retirement.

“If this is 13, I kind of want to get to 20, because I like neatness,” he says, a silk scarf slung rakishly around his neck when we meet for coffee in Dublin.