She was becoming the 'John Sergeant' of the ice skating rink, but Coleen Nolan's impressive survival on Dancing On Ice has come to an end.

The Loose Women star has been voted off last night's semi-final after repeatedly winning the public vote - much to the annoyance of the show's judges.

Instead, Ray Quinn, Jessica Taylor and Donal MacIntyre will compete in next week's final to be crowned this year's champion.

She's out: Coleen Nolan's popular run on Dancing On Ice is over. The presenter and skating partner Stuart Widdal failed to make it into next week's final

Nolan, who faced MacIntyre in the skate-off, was never likely to survive.

However the judges praised the 43-year-old for her 'courage' - especially following a broken wrist injury last week.

‘It’s not going to be the same without you,’ judge Karen Barber told the indefatigable Nolan.

‘You have been funny, courageous and inspiring,’ added fellow judge Ruthie Henshall.

It was left to acid-tongue judge Jason Gardiner to remind viewers the show's about skill not a popularity contest.

‘The British public got it right tonight,' he said.

Top of the leaderboard: Ray Quinn in the Dancing On Ice semi-final was awarded an impressive 28 points for his fiery Latin peformance

Ray and partner Maria Filippov have secured a place in next week's final

Earlier in the night, Quinn delivered a breathtaking performance which earned him an impressive 28 points from the judges.

The 20-year-old adopted the guise of a matador for his latino number with partner Maria Filippov.

'I look at you as I look at a top ice skater,' head judge Robin Cousins told Quinn after the fiery performance which included a number of leaps.

'We think you're never going to get any better and each week you get better,' mentor Jayne Torvill said.

Meanwhile in stark contrast to Quinn's dazzling performance, Noleen was told she has become the 'John Sergeant' of the competition.

They're through: an exuberant Ray hugs Maria

Despite still suffering from her injury, the Loose Women star, who will be 44 this week, was determined to perform in the semi-final.

However her efforts were awarded with a paltry 16.5 and scorn from the judges.

'My heart applauds you but my head says it's time for you to leave,' said Cousins.

'We can all see that you are not doing as much as the other skaters,' judge Nicky Slater added.

Coleen Nolan performed to Shania Twain's You're The One in last night's semi-final but failed to be the one for the judges who awarded her only 16.5 points

'The only thing that will keep you in is the John Sergeant vote,' he added.

Donal MacIntyre continues to prove he's the dark horse of the competition by winning his best score of the series so far, with 22.5 points.

The undercover reporter was the first semi-finalist out on the ice to perform the daunting 20-second solo section - a requisite for tonight's celebrity contestants.

Along with partner Florentine Houdiniere, he danced to Paul McCartney and Wings' Live And Let Die in a dramatic performance which included a hyper glide and three jumps.

'We did our best out there,' Donal said.

'When we saw you six months ago, we would never have thought you would have come this far,' said mentor Christopher Dean.

'The intensity was great,' added gold Olympic medallist champion Cousins.

'The fast and slow pace. Your lifting skills and working with your partner has improved,' he added.

Donal MacIntyre gave a dramatic performance to Paul McCartney and Wings' Live And Let Die in his highest-scoring performance ever - 22.5 points

However it was left to the acerbic Gardiner to dampen the praise, receiving unanimous boos from the audience.

'This was not your strongest performance of the series. He (MacIntyre) has done better,' Gardiner said.

The closest competition Quinn faces comes from singer Jessica Taylor who came second with her romantic dance to Annie Lennox’s Why with partner Pavel Aubrecht.

The former Liberty X star admitted she had been sick with nerves over performing the solo dance, but needn’t have worried as she too, achieved her best score so far of 26.5 points.

A vision in white: Jessica Taylor impressed the judges who awarded her 26.5 points

‘It was the most petrifying thing I have ever done in my life,’ Taylor said.

'The girl can sing, can dance and now she can act,' West End and Broadway star Henshall told Taylor, who along with Cousins and Gardiner awarded her 5.5 points.

'One of your best routines,' Dean added.

'Very, very classy. In your basics, as strong, if not stronger than Ray,' said Cousins.

Cheryl Cole returns to the day job after her trek up Kilimanjaro. Girls Aloud were last night's musical guests