Nigel Lythgoe OBE, known as Nasty Nigel, is an English television and film director and producer, television dance competition judge, former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer.
16 Facts About Nigel Lythgoe
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Nigel Lythgoe was the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol and is the creator and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance, on which he served as a permanent judge for the first sixteen seasons.
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Nigel Lythgoe began tap dancing, and went on to study at the Hylton-Bromley School of Dance and Drama and the Perry Cowell School of Dance, both in Wallasey, where he studied classical ballet, modern jazz, ballroom, character, classical Greek and National dance from various countries.
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Nigel Lythgoe trained in London under Joanne Steuer and Molly Molloy.
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Nigel Lythgoe became their choreographer in 1971 and has since choreographed over 500 television shows.
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Nigel Lythgoe choreographed for Ben Vereen, Shirley Bassey and the Muppets.
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Nigel Lythgoe was loaned by London Weekend Television to Bob Geldof's television company Planet 24 to executive produce and direct the UK version of Survivor.
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Nigel Lythgoe then joined Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment group as President of 19 Television.
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Nigel Lythgoe developed and produced a new show created by Fuller, Pop Idol.
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In 2007, Nigel Lythgoe worked with a number of prominent California-based Brits, including then-British Consul-General Bob Peirce, to found BritWeek, an annual program of events held in Los Angeles and Orange County to celebrate the strong business, historical, and entertainment ties between the UK and California.
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On 4 August 2008, Nigel Lythgoe confirmed that he was leaving American Idol and decided to move on with So You Think You Can Dance.
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Nigel Lythgoe is a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.
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On 5 August 2010, American Idol confirmed Nigel Lythgoe would be returning as an executive producer to the hit show beginning season 10.
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Nigel Lythgoe married Bonita Shawe in 1974, whom he met while he was choreographer for the BBC's Young Generation dance troupe.
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Nigel Lythgoe nearly died from a burst appendix in October 2003.
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Nigel Lythgoe owns Villa San Juliette, a vineyard in Paso Robles, California.