Nigel Lythgoe's Biography

Nigel Lythgoe was born on 9 July 1949 in the Wirral.

His stepfather was a dock worker.

Nigel Lythgoe studied at Manor Road School, Wallasey Technical College and Hylton-Bromley School of Dance and Drama.

In his early days, Nigel Lythgoe was as a dancer. He then became a choreographer for The Young Generation and The Nigel Lythgoe Dancers.

He choreographed numerous TV shows including the Royal Variety Performance.

Nigel Lythgoe went on to become a television executive, becoming Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television (LWT).

His on-screen breakthrough came in 2000 when he became a judge on the TV series Popstars, where he became known as Nasty Nigel.

After leaving LWT, he joined Simon Fuller's 19 TV and executive produced Pop Idol in the UK and American Idol in the United States.

In 2002, Nigel Lythgoe co-created So You Think You Can Dance, of which he is also a judge.

Lythgoe produced American Idol for its first seven seasons and later returned to it for the series broadcast in 2011.

Lythgoe's charitable work includes setting up the Dizzy Feet Foundation with Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Katie Holmes.

Asked By the Mirror, whether he had any phobias, Nigel Lythgoe revealed that he was scared of water.

In 2015, Nigel Lythgoe was awarded the OBE.