Nigel Lythgoe

Nigel Lythgoe is the CEO of Big Red 2 Entertainment, a newly formed company with 19 Entertainment. Lythgoe most recently served as president of 19 Television, and prior to his tenure there, he worked at London Weekend Television, where he was Controller of Entertainment and Comedy.

While at 19, Lythgoe produced Pop Idol, which was later spun-off in the U.S. as American Idol. Lythgoe's role as Executive Producer of American Idol ultimately paved the way for his work as Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning So You Think You Can Dance.

Born in England in 1949, Lythgoe developed an interest in dance at an early age. His first professional job was with the Corps de Ballet, and he later went on to choreograph the BBC's Young Generation dance troupe for more than 500 shows. He became the only person to dance in, choreograph, direct, and produce the Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty, the Queen of England.

During his acclaimed career, he has worked with such legendary stars as Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby, Shirley Bassey, and, perhaps most prestigiously, the Muppets. While at London Weekend Television, he also commissioned and produced the hit shows Gladiators and Blind Date.

In 2000 Mr. Lythgoe earned himself the nickname Nasty Nigel as a judge on hit show Popstars before leaving for Bob Geldof's television company Planet 24, where he executive produced and directed the U.K. version of Survivor. Additionally, he developed and produced the TV phenomenon Pop Idol.

Lythgoe has been a driving force in the world of performing arts as the Executive Producer of the TV juggernaut American Idol, which has been nominated for more than 40 Emmy Awards, and Idol Gives Back, which raised more than $140 million for charity. In 2007 he received the prestigious Governors Award, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' highest honor.

In addition to serving as co-creator and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance, he also executive produced NBC's Superstars of Dance and FOX's Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special.

In 2010, he took So You Think You Can Dance to the U.K., where he is reprising his role as judge, and in 2011, he launched CMT's Next Superstar, alongside his son, Simon. In addition, Lythgoe was recently named as executive producer on the American version of the popular U.K. game show Secret Fortune, set to air in the U.S. on CBS.

In the summer of 2009, the U.K.'s University of Bedfordshire awarded Lythgoe with an honorary Doctor of Arts for his outstanding contribution to the performing arts in television.

Lythgoe is actively involved with numerous charities, serving as the chairman of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Los Angeles, and as an honorary national vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He also sits on the honorary board of Center Dance Arts at the Music Center Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.

In 2009, Lythgoe joined forces with director Adam Shankman, Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and actress Katie Holmes to found the Dizzy Feet Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to talented young dancers, works to elevate and standardize dance instruction in the U.S., and exposes youth in underprivileged communities to the joys of dance education.

Lythgoe lives in Los Angeles.