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Nigel Lythgoe (born July 9, 1949 in the Wirral) is an English television and film director and producer.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Producer Filmography (partial) 4 Director Filmography 5 Awards 6 References 7 External links

Lythgoe aspired to be a professional dancer from childhood, against the wishes of his dockworker father. After professional training, he served as a choreographer for and performed as a dancer with the BBC's Young Generation dance troupe from 1969, and then as a choreographer for numerous shows, including The Muppet Show, where he later progressed to floor director from 1976.

After working his way through the television industry, Lythgoe held the post of Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television, where he comissioned and produced shows including Gladiators and Blind Date^[1].

After being seconded from LWT to Bob Geldof's television company Planet 24 to executive produce the UK version of Survivor, Lythgoe joined Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment group. Here he came to British public attention when he was a judge and executive produced the ITV 1 show Popstars. The show spawned the ill-fated pop group Hear’Say, but most importantly led the way to a host of other singing contests such as Pop Idol. During the show, Lythgoe earned the nickname "Nasty Nigel" for being a tough audition judge.

Lythgoe is now President of 19 Entertainment, where he has brought to screens in both Britain and America various "reality/talent" format of American Idol; and is producer/judge of So You Think You Can Dance, on the FOX television network.

Lythgoe met his wife Bonnie while he was choreographer for the BBC's Young Generation dance troupe. He employed her, but after three years together sacked her in 1971^[2]. Bonnie is now a producer/director, who was also an audition judge on the first and second seasons of So You Think You Can Dance with her husband. The couple, who split in early 2007, have two sons, Simon and Kristopher.

Lythgoe is now reportedly romancing Elvis Presley's former wife, Priscilla.

• So You Think You Can Dance
• All American Girl
• American Juniors
• American Idol
• Pop Idol
• The Brian Conley Show

• All American Girl (2003)
• American Idol (2002)
• Survivor (2001)
• Animals Do The Funniest Things (1999)
• TV Weekly (1988)
• Gladiators (1992)
• The Brian Conley Show (Became producer from Series 3)

• 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2003 Grammy: Album of the Year - Nominee

1. ^ http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:g7heFbC5lbcJ:everything2.com/index.pl%3Fnode_id%3D977386+Bonnie+Lythgoe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=27&client=safari
2. ^ http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:g7heFbC5lbcJ:everything2.com/index.pl%3Fnode_id%3D977386+Bonnie+Lythgoe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=27&client=safari

• Nigel Lythgoe at the Internet Movie Database
• 19 Television Limited