Desmond Olivier Dingle is
Patrick Barlow's
pseudonym for the
spoof historical books
All the World's a Globe (or From Lemur to Cosmonaut), and
Shakespeare: The Truth. He also uses this pseudonym in the
radio versions of the two above books and
The Greatest Story Ever Told. In this last show and
All the World's a Globe he co-stars with
Jim Broadbent who plays
Wallace, his flatmate and the entire acting company of the National Theatre of Brent.
The Desmond Olivier Dingle books and shows are so funny because of Dingle's giant ego and lack of broadcasting skill, and because Wallace always tries to appease Dingle.
Patrick Barlow is one of the best exponents of written British comedy. If you ever see him, buy him a drink.