You're Not Joseph! Public Vote Out Ben Ellis In Semi-Final Of Any Dream Will Do
The public decided live on BBC One's Any Dream Will Do on Saturday night that Ben Ellis will not be Joseph. With the final less than a week away, last Saturday tonight was Andrew Lloyd Webber's last chance to step in and save the hopeful he thinks could still be Joseph.The four remaining contenders had to battle it out to prove to the British public that they really do have the power, range and charisma to land one of the best loved and most coveted roles in the West End.
In addition to their solos the boys performed duets from musicals written by Andrew Lloyd Webber himself.
Ben Ellis and Keith Jack performed Starlight Express/Only You from Starlight Express, while Lee Mead and Lewis Bradley performed Oh What A Circus/High Flying Adored from Evita.
After performing their songs and receiving full and frank 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 and Bill Kenwright said Ben Ellis, while Denise Van Outen and John Barrowman said Lewis Bradley.
Lewis Bradley and Ben Ellis gained the least public votes, and had to sing a joint rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables.
This week was Andrew Lloyd Webber's last chance to have his say and choose which Joseph should be saved.
He said: "It's a really, really difficult decision. Lewis."
Ben Ellis said after his eviction: "I'm obviously disappointed that I didn't quite make it to the final, but I kept fighting.
"All the lads still in there are amazing and I wish them the best of luck."
Before leaving the stage Ben Ellis 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.
The week's group song was the Queen classic Under Pressure.
The three remaining hopefuls go on to this week's final when they will audition for the public and the public alone to decide who will be Joseph in the new West End production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.