Gillingham singer Joseph Apostol has made it through to the semi-finals of the BBC talent show The Voice.

The 21-year-old, who lives in Shakespeare Road, wowed the audience with his rendition of Jackie Wilson’s hit Higher and Higher during Friday night's live quarter-final.

He also impressed his mentor Sir Tom Jones, who chose to send him straight through to the next round without facing a public vote.

After the show he wrote on Twitter: “Thank you so much! For your kind and encouraging words! Have a great night people!”

Joseph won his place in the quarter-finals in last weekend’s knockout rounds when he was chosen ahead of fellow Medway singing talent Adam Barron, from Chatham, and Welsh rocker Ragsy.

The live semi-final takes place on Saturday, June 15.

Joseph told the Medway Messenger this week that he kept his stunning voice a secret for much of his life.

He moved to Medway when he was 10 and attended St John Fisher School in Ordnance Street, Chatham. But Joseph never once sang in front of his classmates.

It wasn’t until he started attending a nearby church and singing in its choir that his confidence grew.

He said: “I was really shy back then in terms of my singing. I wasn’t that confident. I always knew I could sing, but I didn’t start doing it in public until I went to church.

“I used to jam with my friends and my college course at MidKent really helped.”

During his time at MidKent College, Joseph performed several times in front of staff and students, including the opening of the soundproof live room at the Gillingham campus in Medway Road in November.

He also received a standing ovation at the annual student awards ceremony in January after wowing the audience with another spectacular vocal performance.

While there he formed his first band, Midnight Soul – a blues, jazz and soul group – and performed at open mic nights at local pubs including The Eagle Tavern in Rochester.

Joseph added: “In a way my mum, Rebecca, got me into music. She listened to a lot of ballads and slow records.”