The public decided live on BBC One tonight that Rob McVeigh will not be Joseph.

After some harsh comments from the judges in last week’s Any Dream Will Do, the seven remaining Josephs had to fight back to prove to the public that they have the power, range and charisma to land one of the best loved and most prized roles in the West End.

Once they had performed their songs and received feedback from Andrew Lloyd Webber and the expert panel of Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman, Bill Kenwright and Zoe Tyler, the Josephs faced the agony of the public vote.

When asked by host Graham Norton who was not Joseph, Zoe Tyler said Daniel Boys, while Bill Kenwright, Denise Van Outen and John Barrowman all said Rob McVeigh.

Rob McVeigh and Lewis Bradley gained the least public votes and had to perform a joint rendition of Tell Me It’s Not True from the musical Blood Brothers.

Then it was up to Andrew Lloyd Webber alone to choose which Joseph should be saved. He said: “I’m going to save Lewis.” He said to Rob: “We’ll all follow your career with huge interest.”

Rob McVeigh said after his eviction: “To be honest I’m shocked I got this far, I know I’ve got a long way to go but I’m going out with my head held high, its been amazing.”

Before leaving the stage Rob McVeigh joined the other Josephs for the now traditional rendition of Poor Poor Joseph/Close Every Door from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, before taking his final bow.

This week’s group song was You Really Got Me by The Kinks.

The six remaining hopefuls go on to next week’s show where they will again audition for the nation to decide who could be Joseph in the new West End production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at the later time of 8.10pm.