Malachi gets Fame Academy boot

Malachi was voted out by fellow students

Pop hopeful Malachi Cush has been "expelled" from the BBC's talent search Fame Academy - leaving just four contestants left in the show.

The 22-year-old gas fitter from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, was kicked off the show after fellow student Sinead Quinn - also from the province - was backed by a public vote.

In a second round, Sinead voted to keep Malachi in the academy, but fellow contestants David Sneddon and Lemar Obika backed rival contestant Ainslie Henderson, outvoting her.

Malachi congratulated Ainslie (right)

Three contestants are up for expulsion each week on Fame Academy, with one saved by a public vote, who then joins the other remaining hopefuls to vote for who else should stay.

The show has struggled to attract the anticipated large audiences enjoyed by rivals such as Pop Idol but has picked up viewers as the show continued.

In Friday's live show, over one million votes were cast, with Sinead getting the backing of 38% of viewers.

Sinead, Malachi and Ainslie had to sing in the hope of persuading viewers to keep them in the competition.

They were chosen by their tutors as the worst performing pupils of the week.

Sinead Quinn survives for another week

The show's winner will be revealed on 13 December with the successful student collecting a £1m recording contract and the chance to live in the lap of luxury for a year.

Originally a dozen students started out learning the pop profession at the Fame Academy but this has been whittled down to four.

All 12 will be featured on a Fame Academy album which is released on 9 December.

The album features covers of songs by artists such as the Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Christina Aguilera and Van Morrison.

It ends with a rendition of the Bill Withers classic Lean on Me, sung by all the Fame Academy students.

The four remaining contestants will have to "sing for survival" on next week's show.