Nasty Nigel returns to American Idol team

Nasty Nigel returns to American Idol team
Nasty Nigel returns to American Idol team (Image credit: Paul Smith/EMPICS Entertainment)

Nigel Lythgoe is returning to American Idol as a producer. The former Popstars judge left his producing role on American Idol two years ago to focus on So You Think You Can Dance, the Fox channel dancing contest he executive produces and judges. He will represent CKx Inc, the holding company of Idol co-producer 19 Entertainment. 'Nasty Nigel' will be joining executive producers Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Ken Warwick and creator Simon Fuller on behalf of CKx, which shares rights to the show with FremantleMedia North America. His return had been widely rumoured over the past week. "Since we launched the original Pop Idol in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller," said Nigel. "American Idol became a juggernaut of epic proportions, but to me it was always like home. I am elated and honoured to be rejoining childhood friend and fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, and look forward to creating more magic." Nigel originally served as American Idol producer when it debuted in 2002. "Nigel helped to define the show I created almost 10 years ago, mentoring our judging panel and nurturing our talent," Fuller said. "His unbridled passion has been missed." The reunion comes amid sweeping changes for the show's judging panel. Simon Cowell left at the end of last season, and Ellen DeGeneres announced last week she would not return.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.