Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is leaving the most popular show on television, Fox’s “American Idol.�

Confirming online reports, “Idol� production company 19 Entertainment, where Lythgoe serves as president, released a statement Monday announcing Lythgoe was stepping down from his duties on the show.

“Due to the huge success of ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada to work on local versions of the show,� Lythgoe said. “I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on ‘American Idol’ and will be devoting my time to a new venture with Simon Fuller.�

19 Entertainment denied “online rumors� that Lythgoe was leaving the company. “Contrary to online rumors, producer Nigel Lythgoe is not leaving 19 Entertainment,� the statement said. Lythgoe will also continue to executive produce Fox’s summer hit “Dance,� which was recently renewed for a fifth season.

Despite the statement, Lythgoe’s future with 19 is far from clear. Lythgoe still holds his president title at 19, but the company confirmed he is negotiating a new joint venture with 19’s chief executive and fellow “Idol� executive producer Fuller. The company will continue producing “Idol� due to Fuller’s association with the show, but whether Lythgoe retains his producer credit has not yet been determined.