Simon Lythgoe
Encyclopedia
Simon Lythgoe, educated at Felsted
, was a chief lighting technician for The Lord of the Rings
films, and is a producer of American Idol
. He is the son of Nigel Lythgoe
.
He currently emulates his father by hosting prime-time game shows on TV in Australia.
Early Life
Born in North London, England, to choreographer Nigel Lythgoe and dancer Bonita Lythgoe, he grew up in Cuffley, Hertfordshire. After attending Keble Preparatory School in Winchmore Hill, North London, he later attended Felsted boarding school in Essex. After completing 10 GCSEs he attended Oaklands college in St.Albans for his A-Levels.
Career
Upon completion of his studies worked for London Weekend Television as a senior runner and an Assistant Floor Manager. His credits include The Late Show With David Letterman, The Royal Variety Performance, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, An Audience with ...., Gladiators, The Brian Conley Show, The Big Big Talent Show, British Comedy Awards.
In 1993 Lythgoe traveled to Australia to work on the Aussie version of Gladiators for Kevin Jacobson Productions. The month long engagement turned into a year long commitment, when Lythgoe decided to stay in Sydney working for the Seven Network. His titles ranged from 3rd Assistant Director to Floor Manager, and later a Researcher and then Associate Producer.
After a year Lythgoe returned to London, England. He worked as the 1st Assistant Director for Sky's drama series Dream Team, produced by Hewland International. During this time he also attended the National Film and Television School.
After completing the first series, Lythgoe immigrated permanently to Sydney, Australia. Returning to the Seven Network he worked on the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Roy & HG's Money, The Monday Dump, Saturday Disney, House of Hits, The Morning Shift, Big Arvo, People's Choice Awards, along with numerous sports events including the Bledisloe Cup, AFL, Super 12 Rugby, the Lions Tour.
In 1999 Lythgoe was employed by Screentime Pty. Ltd. working in Program Development. After completing one of Australia's highest rating and groundbreaking series, Popstars Season 2 and 3, Lythgoe coerced his father, Nigel Lythgoe, to license the format for Britain's ITV network. With the overwhelming success of Popstars in the UK, Nigel formed 19 Television with Simon Fuller, and the format morphed into Pop Idol. This format was later sold to the USA, known as American Idol.
In 2002 Lythgoe left Australia and moved to Hollywood to help produce American Idol with his father, Nigel. Lythgoe produced some of Idol's biggest success stories including Carrie Underwood and Ruben Studard. During this period Lythgoe was also the coordinating producer for So You Think You Can Dance. After six seasons of Idol and two of SYTYCD Lythgoe was poached by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett as a producer for the Fox Network's On The Lot. Upon completion Lythgoe was employed as an Executive for American Idol's parent company, Fremantle Media North America. During his contract Lythgoe produced CMT's Can You Duet, NBC's Celebrity Family Feud, Fox's Osbourne Reloaded and advised on America's Got Talent, I've Got Your Number and Let's Make A Deal.
At the end of 2009 Lythgoe left Fremantle Media and setup his own company, Legacy Productions.
Personal
Lythgoe was married to Fiona Lazaredes on 3 January, 1999. They have three children, Kyan David Anthony Lythgoe, Tighe Jamie George Lythgoe and Dominie Antonia Lythgoe.
The couple divorced in 2004.
In 2008 Lythgoe married to Tifanie A. White, a makeup artist on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
, was a chief lighting technician for The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
films, and is a producer of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. He is the son of Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe is an English television and film director and producer, and former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer. He is noted for being the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol as well as being a creator, executive producer and a regular judge for So You Think You Can...
.
He currently emulates his father by hosting prime-time game shows on TV in Australia.
Early Life
Born in North London, England, to choreographer Nigel Lythgoe and dancer Bonita Lythgoe, he grew up in Cuffley, Hertfordshire. After attending Keble Preparatory School in Winchmore Hill, North London, he later attended Felsted boarding school in Essex. After completing 10 GCSEs he attended Oaklands college in St.Albans for his A-Levels.
Career
Upon completion of his studies worked for London Weekend Television as a senior runner and an Assistant Floor Manager. His credits include The Late Show With David Letterman, The Royal Variety Performance, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, An Audience with ...., Gladiators, The Brian Conley Show, The Big Big Talent Show, British Comedy Awards.
In 1993 Lythgoe traveled to Australia to work on the Aussie version of Gladiators for Kevin Jacobson Productions. The month long engagement turned into a year long commitment, when Lythgoe decided to stay in Sydney working for the Seven Network. His titles ranged from 3rd Assistant Director to Floor Manager, and later a Researcher and then Associate Producer.
After a year Lythgoe returned to London, England. He worked as the 1st Assistant Director for Sky's drama series Dream Team, produced by Hewland International. During this time he also attended the National Film and Television School.
After completing the first series, Lythgoe immigrated permanently to Sydney, Australia. Returning to the Seven Network he worked on the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Roy & HG's Money, The Monday Dump, Saturday Disney, House of Hits, The Morning Shift, Big Arvo, People's Choice Awards, along with numerous sports events including the Bledisloe Cup, AFL, Super 12 Rugby, the Lions Tour.
In 1999 Lythgoe was employed by Screentime Pty. Ltd. working in Program Development. After completing one of Australia's highest rating and groundbreaking series, Popstars Season 2 and 3, Lythgoe coerced his father, Nigel Lythgoe, to license the format for Britain's ITV network. With the overwhelming success of Popstars in the UK, Nigel formed 19 Television with Simon Fuller, and the format morphed into Pop Idol. This format was later sold to the USA, known as American Idol.
In 2002 Lythgoe left Australia and moved to Hollywood to help produce American Idol with his father, Nigel. Lythgoe produced some of Idol's biggest success stories including Carrie Underwood and Ruben Studard. During this period Lythgoe was also the coordinating producer for So You Think You Can Dance. After six seasons of Idol and two of SYTYCD Lythgoe was poached by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett as a producer for the Fox Network's On The Lot. Upon completion Lythgoe was employed as an Executive for American Idol's parent company, Fremantle Media North America. During his contract Lythgoe produced CMT's Can You Duet, NBC's Celebrity Family Feud, Fox's Osbourne Reloaded and advised on America's Got Talent, I've Got Your Number and Let's Make A Deal.
At the end of 2009 Lythgoe left Fremantle Media and setup his own company, Legacy Productions.
Personal
Lythgoe was married to Fiona Lazaredes on 3 January, 1999. They have three children, Kyan David Anthony Lythgoe, Tighe Jamie George Lythgoe and Dominie Antonia Lythgoe.
The couple divorced in 2004.
In 2008 Lythgoe married to Tifanie A. White, a makeup artist on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.