So You Think You Can Dance

Nigel Lythgoe is returning to British shores to find the nation's hottest dancing talent on BBC One with the award-winning So You Think You Can Dance.

Fresh from five seasons of the hit show in the US, Lythgoe will take up his position as head judge on a panel of industry experts who will select finalists to compete for the title of Britain's Favourite Dancer this January.

Dancers from all disciplines were invited to participate in nation-wide auditions which took place during October 2009.

Both amateurs and professionals were welcome – the only criteria was talent, personality and passion. The successful finalists will travel to London where they will compete for their place in weekly, live shows at Television Centre.

The series winner will receive a cash prize plus a to-be-confirmed, once-in-a-lifetime experience. But in order to get there, competitors will be pushed right out of their comfort zones.

Each week they'll be challenged to different styles of dance like hip hop, jazz, Broadway, lyrical and contemporary with a new routine taught by a different choreographer and mentor.

And it won't be just the judges they have to impress: viewers will have the ultimate power to vote for their favourite dancer at the end of each live show.

Nigel Lythgoe, well known as "Nasty Nigel" for his acid tongue as resident tough judge on Popstars, says: "I began my career as a dancer on the BBC in the Sixties. Now, I'm back as a judge of dancers – I believe I've made a full circle back to television's home of dance here at the BBC. I couldn't have imagined that dance would become a global phenomenon that would ultimately be responsible for this, my very special homecoming. It's good to be home."

Nigel is thrilled to be joined by award-winning choreographer Arlene Phillips on the panel. "No one knows more about dance and her work spans a range of musical, stage and screen credits. She was a regular panellist for six seasons of Strictly Come Dancing and says So You Think You Can Dance is a dancer's dream. This show can be the making of the artists competing in it. I've always supported dance talent and look forward to seeing the most promising developing before our eyes each week."