Actress Roxanne Pallett who plays Jo Stiles in ITV's Emmerdale, has been chosen to be honoured with her very own rose at this year's Southport Flower Show on Saturday 18th August 2007.

The actress, who has A levels in theatre studies, English language and literature and media studies, is a graduate of Liverpool's John Moore's University.

She will be at the Flower Show to attend the official launch of The Roxanne Pallett Rose' at 10.00am.

On hearing the news Roxanne said: "This is absolutely wonderful and all the more precious as my Grandma used to take me to Southport Flower Show every year when I was little. It's a wonderful honour and one of which my Grandma would have been very proud. I am looking forward to a very nostalgic trip back to Southport Flower Show."

With a theme of music for this year's Show, Roxanne will certainly feel at home. Whilst a struggling student, she wrote music and formed a band that attracted interest from record labels and resulted in her moving to London. Roxanne went on to juggle recording music with working as a script developer for Channel Four projects.

In the summer of 2005 she joined the cast of Emmerdale and in the same year performed in ITV's Discomania2 with Gloria Gaynor. She was also the winner of Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes as Gloria Estefan and many will also remember her coming fourth last year in ITV's Soapstar Superstar.

In her role as Jo, Roxanne has recently been part of a major storyline in Emmerdale playing a femme fatale. Now, as the new love of Andy's life, Jo has shown a more compassionate side to her nature, looking after his young daughter and demonstrating an entrepreneurial and ambitious trait to her character by launching her own business producing and selling goat's milk!

But the actress assures viewers that Jo's current public persona of a caring young woman is only temporary and her inbred nasty nature still remains intact!

The Roxanne Pallett Rose' is a deep red coloured hybrid tea rose that has been created by award-winning rose grower Keith Jones, of C&K Jones in Cheshire. The name will be centrally registered in America so that no-one else can replicate the same title.

The rose will be available for purchase at £10 each by telephoning C&K Jones on 01829 740663, emailing info@jonestherose.co.uk or logging on to www.jonestherose.co.uk .

Roxanne may well be surprised to see how Southport Flower Show has developed over the years. Not only is it the UK largest independent Flower Show, it is also bigger than Chelsea's annual horticultural event, boasting over 1m blooms set in 34 acres of parkland near the resort's coastline.

This year television and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford will officially open the four day event which starts on Thursday 16th August and runs until Sunday 19th August 2007 inclusive.

Garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, who is a patron of the Show, will be present on Friday 17th August, which has been designated Ladies Day, as premium tickets are available that include special access to fashion and hair shows as well as admission to the Flower Show. Those considering a visit to Southport Flower Show should take comfort from the long term weather forecast which predicts non-stop sunshine for the duration of the event.

For further information visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk and for tickets telephone Ticketmaster on 0870 44 44 226 or purchase online via www.ticketmaster.co.uk