Trivia

A one-time dancer and choreographer, he later became an English television and film director and producer, who crashed onto the Hollywood scene, producing the shows American Idol (2002) as well as creating, executive producing and being a regular judge on So You Think You Can Dance (2005).

Has choreographed for Ben Vereen, Shirley Bassey and the Muppets.

Held the post of Head of Entertainment and Comedy at London Weekend Television, where he commissioned and produced shows including "Gladiators" and "Blind Date".

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the performing arts, education and charity. He is a television producer.

He met former wife, Bonnie Lythgoe, while he was choreographer for the BBC's "Young Generation" dance troupe. They married in 1974 and divorced in 2007. Bonnie was also an audition judge on the first season of So You Think You Can Dance (2005) and is a judge on the Australian version of the show, So You Think You Can Dance Australia (2008). The couple have two sons: Simon Lythgoe and Kristopher Lythgoe.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6258 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 9, 2021 (his 72nd birthday). His sons Kristopher Lythgoe, Simon Lythgoe and Priscilla Presley were guest speakers at the ceremony. His Walk of Fame star is located in front of the W. Hollywood Hotel.

Dated Priscilla Presley and Raquel Welch.

Owns Villa San Juliette, a vineyard in Paso Robles, California.