A COMEDY written, based and filmed in Southampton has been aired on BBC Three, the platform which launched worldwide smash hit Gavin and Stacey.

The Southampton born and bred co-creator, writer, associate producer and star of the show is hoping Fully Blown will put the city on the map in the same way the much-loved sitcom made Barry famous.

Verona Rose told the Daily Echo she'd love the whole city to get behind the show and download it on BBC iPlayer.

Fully Blown tells the story of two best friends who adopt superstar rap personas and has an all female writing and directing team, which also includes Verona's comedy partner Donna Preston, who appears alongside her in the show, and Sarah Morgan, a comedy writer who has credits on Not Going Out starring Lee Mack and is story producer on Sky Atlantic's Intelligence starring David Schwimmer of Friends fame.

Verona, the stage name of 34-year-old Catherine Gordon, started acting at seven and was part of Oaklands Youth Theatre, now Oasis Youth Theatre, before moving to London at 16 to go to the Brit Performing Arts School.

She is a talented MC / rapper who shows off her skills in the show.

Fully Blown was filmed on the High Street outside Topshop, outside the city's iconic Guildhall, outside the restaurants at Westquay South, in St Mary's, Holy Rood, Mayflower Park and Bursledon.

Rising Star and Southampton MC Tyrone can be seen in a cameo in Fully Blown, while Southampton producer Jojo Farinella produced some of the music for the show.

Teenager Shantel Gordon, an A level student at Richard Taunton College, receives her first every TV credit on the project, as a floor runner.

Fully Blown is one of three three-minute £45,000 comedies which have been ordered by the BBC comedy controller's team with a view to being developed into long-form series.

Verona Rose said: "It felt quite strange watching it back on Iplayer, as we worked on it for over a year and hadn't watched it since February.

"Donna and I were both emotional as we put a lot of time and energy into creating the characters and finally they would be available to the world. Persistence and hard work really do pay off.

"Since filming Fully Blown we have been fortunate enough to film for a new E4/Channel 4 show called 'Pants on Fire' hosted by Emma Willis.

"Fully Blown has been a massive confidence boost for the both of us and has already started opening new doors."