The Jimmy Savile abuse scandal was a "dark chapter in the history of the BBC" says Tony Hall, , the corporation's director. The general admitted th is statement after a highly critical report into the entertainer's treatment was leaked. 

 

The director said the corporation will use Dame Janet Smith's report into sexual abuse by Savile to ensure nothing happens like it again, after key sections from an early draft appeared to show previous failings at the BBC. 

 

He added that the BBC could not act until the final version of the report was released and called for this to be done as quickly as possible.

 

Hall said: "Dame Janet Smith's report will be invaluable in helping usunderstand what happened and to help ensure that we do everything possible to avoid it happening again."

 

A statement from the BBC trust chair, Rona Fairhead, said it would be premature to comment before the full version is published, but promised to ensure the BBC took actions on its findings. 

 

Chapters from the draft, including its conclusion, were leaked to investigative news website Exaro, which published extracts. The draft, dating back almost a year,  suggests the report will detail Savile's abuse of children at "virtually every one of the BBC premises at which he worked"