The Voice UK: Four chosen to battle for competition in final as judge Will.i.am suffers verbal mishap on air

Eight semi-finalists performed a solo cover song and a group song with their mentor and teammate

Will.i.am singing with Jermaine Jackman and Sophie May Williams

The last remaining contestants will battle it out for the title of winner of The Voice next week after four singers were knocked out in tonight's live semi-finals.

Eight semi-finalists performed a solo cover song and a group song with their mentor and teammate, before four bowed out in the penultimate stage of the competition which was decided by a public vote.

Judge Will.i.am suffered a verbal mishap when he swore on air. Commenting on singer Lee Glasson's performance, the judge said: "You were really feeling that sh*t - sorry."

Host Emma Willis apologised immediately saying: "I do apologise on Will's behalf and hope no-one has taken offence."

The judge later tweeted: "Oops...my moms ganna kill me...I slipped...".

Each celebrity judge will be represented by one singer in the last stage.

Singer Jamie Johnson, 19, from Gillingham, Kent, received the most public votes for Kylie Minogue's team.

Minogue's eliminated contestant, 31-year-old Lee Glasson, of Coventry, said: "It's been quite a test. I've learnt so much about myself. It's just been amazing and Jamie to win."

Tom Jones, who performed Dancing In The Street with his singers, will be represented in the final by Sally Barker, 54, from Leicester, after 43-year-old Bizzi Dixon, also from Leicester, was eliminated.

Barker said: "I can't really believe it because Bizzi is so great. I hate to think I've also knocked out someone from Leicester," she said of her teammate. "We've been at every stage together."

Eliminated Dixon said: "The whole experience has been brilliant. The reason I did this was to get some exposure and I'm so glad Sally is still flying the flag for Leicester. Thank you so much everyone for supporting me."

Kaiser Chiefs front-man Ricky Wilson will have 20-year-old Christina Marie as his sole contestant.

Christina, from Bristol, sang Bang Bang by Cher and David Guetta. Fellow judge Minogue said after her performance: "You're just incredible. I sit here in awe of what you do."

Eliminated Team Ricky contestant, Chris Royal from Manchester, said: "I'm so pleased with myself that I got this far and I will use this platform to showcase myself."

Wilson and his singers sang a cover version of You Really Got Me by The Kinks.

Will. i. am's finalist is 19-year-old Jermaine Jackman, from London, who received more public votes than the show's youngest contestant, Sophie-May Williams, 17, from Wakefield. The trio sang a version of David Bowie's Let's Dance.

Latin superstars Enrique Iglesias and Shakira performed live on the show.

Shakira, who is a judge on the US version of The Voice said: "It feels strange to be on the other side of the red chairs."

The BBC has commissioned another two series of The Voice but refused to say if the current coaches including Minogue will come back with it.

The series has been a ratings hit and has regularly pulled in bigger audiences than its ITV rival Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Mark Linsey, controller of entertainment commissioning, said: "The Voice has really cemented itself as hugely popular on BBC One Saturday nights and I am delighted that we will be dusting down the iconic red chairs for another airing next year."

The final of The Voice airs next Sunday at 7pm on BBC One.

PA