‘American Idol’ producer sings out

Producer Nigel Lythgoe, who helped bring “American Idol” to these shores from its British beginnings, is at the cross-cultural thing again, and he’s hoping you’ll join him. From now through May 8, it’s BritWeek in L.A., with a flurry of events around town marking the event (check out BritWeek.org).

Lythgoe, the president and founder, explains how it all came about three years ago.

“I started it after going to an Australia Weekend here in which they had cricket and rugby matches against England, an event celebrating Australian food and wines, and promotions like that,” said the Hollywood Hills resident.

“I thought, ‘This is crazy -- Britain is one of the biggest investors in Southern California, we do the biggest television show in the U.S. here,’ and we weren’t doing anything to celebrate that!”

Lythgoe approached British Consul-General Bob Peirce about his idea, and things just clicked.

“It’s just grown and grown, which is what’s fabulous about it,” said Lythgoe. “Britain and Los Angeles is a good match.”

On the links

I’ve got a friend over in Malibu named John Farrar, an Australian who wrote a lot of Olivia Newton-John’s hits, like “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One That I Want,” and we like to go out to Malibu Country Club for some golf.

Then I’ll drag him and his wife down to the King’s Head in Santa Monica, the old British-style pub, for some lunch. We’ll start with sausage rolls, baked beans, and then either roast beef or roast lamb, the full Monty with five or six vegetables, and not just broccoli like a lot of American restaurants.

Then I’ll just come home and collapse.

Top-down travel

Because of the marvelous weather here, a Brit can enjoy the Southern California lifestyle pretty much wherever you might go. But, of course, you need a car, and I’m so lucky that I was finally able to afford the car of my dreams, even though I feel a little guilty driving it, mind you -- the Bentley Azure. But I put the top down and really enjoy the weather.

Then what I like to do best is drive down to Laguna Beach to the Montage resort. I’ve been fortunate enough to go to some of the best resorts in the world, and the Montage is tops, both from the point of view of eating and the spa. It’s wonderful. And listening to the pianist is fantastic for relaxing after dinner. The little town itself is just wonderful with all the art galleries and crystal shops.

Morning glory

If I’m in the mood for a good old-fashioned British breakfast, the Four Seasons on Doheny now serves it. They do everything -- the bangers, the Heinz baked beans, the fried bread, everything that just kills you. I’ve already had a heart attack and I’m trying to add to my cholesterol. I enjoy that; I’ll go at least twice a month.

But I also like the Urth Caffe on Melrose, the Farmers Market, and there’s some good places at the Grove.

There are so many great restaurants here now -- Ago, the Little Door, Il Piccolino, and Il Sole will kill me if I don’t mention them as well.

Night moves

I love going to see musicals at the Pantages, and I just saw Alvin Ailey’s dance group downtown at the Dorothy Chandler.

And as often as I can, I love going out to the Hollywood Bowl. It’s just the most fantastic evening imaginable, sitting out there under the stars with a nice bottle of wine at your table and singing along to songs from “The Sound of Music.”

Perfect.

mark.sachs@latimes.com