Boy band Union J voted off The X Factor

Boy band Union J were booted off The X Factor tonight following their semi-final performances.

Making through to next week's final are the boys James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas and the last remaining over-28 Christopher Maloney.

Union J's Josh Cuthbert, 20, said, "We're so happy about where we've come and we've got so much to thank X Factor for".

Fellow band member Jaymi Hensley, 22, said, "This has been our dream, being here right now performing. I can't describe how amazing it has been, we've loved every minute of it".

Union J's mentor, Louis Walsh, said he was "a little bit disappointed", but he added, "We were ready for it. But you know what? They're going to have an amazing future. They're the next big boy band".

Cuthbert, Hensley and bandmates Jamie Hamblett, 24, and George Shelley, 19, ended the show singing Taylor Swift's Romeo and Juliet.

After the show, Union J tweeted:

Maloney, who was booed by some in the crowd when his name was called as a finalist, said, "I'm just so grateful for everyone that has picked up the phone and voted for me".

While Douglas, who used to work at Asda, said, "I can't believe I've gone from Asda to getting through to the semi-final. Its crazy people think I'm good enough to get here".

The semi-finalists kicked off the show with Rod Stewart's Merry Christmas, Baby, and were joined on stage by the rock legend in a surprise performance.

Judge Tulisa Contostavlos performed her new single Sight Of You, and was followed by Pink singing Try on her first X Factor appearance.

Tonight's result was decided entirely by the public vote, the proceedings of which will be donated to children's charity Together For Short Lives.