Nigel Lythgoe Returns to Idol

LOS ANGELES: FOX’s American Idol, which is in the midst of an overhaul following the exits of Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres, has clinched a deal to bring Nigel Lythgoe back as an executive producer for the upcoming 10th anniversary season kicking off in January 2011.

Lythgoe joins executive producers Simon Fuller, Cecile Frot-Coutaz and Ken Warwick for the upcoming season. He was an exec producer on the show from its U.S. launch through 2008, when he left to focus on another FOX format-based show, So You Think You Can Dance, which he co-created. Lythgoe is co-founder of Big Red 2 Entertainment, a company he set up with Fuller and CKX. 

"Since we launched the original Pop Idol in England, I’ve remained close with Simon Fuller," said Lythgoe. "Working as executive producer on American Idol for its first seven years not only was an inspirational journey into the heart of American pop culture, it opened my eyes to the untapped potential of the incredibly dynamic young people in this world. I have been able to continue discovering raw talent on So You Think You Can Dance, which I co-created with Simon. American Idol became a juggernaut of epic proportions, but to me it was always like home. I am elated and honored to be rejoining childhood friend and fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, and look forward to creating more magic."

"I am so happy to be welcoming Nigel back to the Idol family," said Fuller. " He is without doubt the most accomplished executive producer I have ever worked with. Nigel helped to define the show I created almost ten years ago, mentoring our judging panel and nurturing our talent. His unbridled passion has been missed. This year, with Idol celebrating our tenth season as the world’s biggest and most powerful TV show, I felt it was an important time to collaborate with Nigel once again to help redefine American Idol and take us through to the next incarnation of the show."