Singer Joseph Apostol is now one step closer to achieving his lifelong dream after making it through the battle round of The Voice.

The 21-year-old MidKent College student went head-to-head with fellow contestants Diva in the hit BBC talent show last night.

Together they performed Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me, but it was Joseph's singing that stood out for Sir Tom Jones, securing him a place in the next stage.

Joseph, who moved to England from the Philippines when he was 10, said: "I was really nervous before I went on stage, but as soon as I start singing all the nerves went.

"We both gave a great performance and Diva were really amazing. I was really chuffed when Tom picked me.

"I feel like he trusts me as a singer as well and he has given me a lot of advice."

Now he is through to the knockouts where coaches – Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, will.i.am and Danny O'Donoghue – must reduce their teams of seven down to just three ahead of the live shows.

Each artist will choose one song to impress their coach with, and once more they will be pitted against a fellow team mate, but this time they won't know who they're up against until they take to the stage.

Joseph added: "Everyone is just really excited for me, including my mum. She works in the hospital and she has been telling all her patients about it.

"I'm really thankful for everyone's support. This is what I want to do with my life."

He will be appearing on the show alongside 27-year-old Adam Barron, from Chatham, who is also mentored by Sir Tom.

The father-of-two was given a lifeline by the veteran crooner after he lost his own battle in an earlier show.

In a new twist this year, acts which failed to be picked by their own coach could be 'stolen' by another judge to be part of their team.

After joining Sir Tom's team, Adam said: "I'm working with the living legend that is Sir Tom. That is insane. It doesn't happen to normal people."

The Knockouts take place this Saturday and Sunday on BBC1.