Mark Thompson was director general of the BBC until earlier this year . His conflicting statements about the Savile affair caused controversy . `` I was never formally notified about the 'Newsnight ' investigation and was not briefed about the allegations they were examining and to what extent , if at all , those allegations related to Savile 's work at the BBC , '' Thompson wrote in the letter , dated Tuesday . He explained in a letter what he said and when .
Mark Thompson was director general of the BBC until earlier this year . His conflicting statements about the Savile affair caused controversy . He explained in a letter what he said and when .