AN STV series which features the residents of a Glasgow high rise is now one of the most watched programmes in South America.

Award-winning comedy drama High Times focuses on the lives of dopey layabouts Rab and Jake, rebellious teen Tracey and country-and-western lover Tex.

Yet despite the strong Glaswegian content - or perhaps because of it - Latin Americans can't get enough of their antics.

High Times is currently the second most popular programme in South America, with relationship sit-com Coupling - written by Johnstone-born writer Stephen Moffat - taking first spot.

A spokesman for STV said: "High Times has now been sold to the Euro Channel in South America, and has become hugely popular with fans in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay and Mexico.

"We're delighted that High Times is doing so well in South America.

"It just goes to show how universally funny and appealing great comedy can be."

Mexico's leading showbiz critic Alexandra Breton wrote in The Universal: "High Times, presented by Eurochannel, proves that American sitcoms are not the only ones capable of making an audience laugh.

"High Times comes with a very peculiar timing for comedy and also brings intelligence to the genre."

High Times won a Scottish BAFTA in 2004 and a Celtic Film and Television Award for best drama in 2005. The series, written by John Rooney, was also short listed at the exclusive Rose D'Or Awards and the Prix Italia Awards.

Once again starring Stephen McCole as Rab, Alan McCafferty as Jake, and Cora Bissett, Alison Peebles and Jon Morrison, the follow-up series was filmed two years ago.

However the new series is still waiting to go out on the air.

An STV spokesman said: "We're hoping to broadcast the second series, which is excellent, as soon as a suitable slot becomes available.

"But our regular opt-out slot from the network is mid-evening, while the fruity content of the show demands that we screen High Times after the 9pm watershed. "

That means the Glasgow show is competing for the top broadcast slot of 9pm against ITV big-hitters such as Trial and Retribution, Taggart and movies.