The Banff World Television Festival is pleased to announce that Nigel Lythgoe will be presented with the Award of Excellence at the 2010 Banff World Television Awards. The co-creator and Executive Producer of the ratings phenomenon “So You Think You Can Dance” will also give a Keynote address. Lythgoe will share his experiences working in Hollywood and the UK as a passionate supporter of the arts, as well as successful reality television shows.
Co-founder and president of Big Red 2 Entertainment, which he formed with 19 Entertainment founder Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe has been the driving force behind many of television’s most-watched reality shows including “Survivor”(UK), “Pop Idol”(UK), and the famed “American Idol,” which he executive produced for seven highly successful seasons. In front of the camera, Lythgoe is most well known as executive producer and judge on the Emmy award-winning “So You Think You Can Dance?” which he recently brought to the UK.
“Nigel Lythgoe is one of television’s best weapons when it comes to creating a hit reality TV series both in Hollywood and the UK,” said Peter Vamos, Executive Director of the Banff World Television Festival. “We are delighted to be presenting him the Award of Excellence as well as hearing some of the secrets behind his tremendous success.”
As a choreographer, Nigel Lythgoe has worked with stars such as Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby, Shirley Bassey and, most prestigiously, the Muppets. Developing an interest in dance at an early age, his first professional job was with the Corps de Ballet. He later went on to choreograph the BBC’s Young Generation dance troupe for more than 500 shows and became the only person to dance in, choreograph, direct, and produce the Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty the Queen of England.