BBC journalists could strike over Christmas and the new year in their bitter dispute over pensions, it has been revealed as programmes continue to be disrupted amid the current 48-hour walkout.
Sources say that leaders of the National Union of Journalists will consider calling industrial action over the festive break unless there is a breakthrough in the deadlocked row.
In a message to staff on Friday, Mr Thompson said: "It is always a matter of regret when there is any disruption to our services to the public and that is why I have apologised to our viewers, listeners and online users this morning."
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said the second day of the strike was being "solidly supported" and he predicted disruption to radio and TV news programmes.
Speaking from an NUJ picket line in Glasgow, he said: "News programmes have virtually been written off in Scotland and we expect huge disruption across the BBC again."
Mr Dear said journalists now had little trust in the BBC management and revealed he had received calls for a petition of no confidence in BBC director-general Mark Thompson.
Radio 5 Live has been forced to cancel programme, but despite the strike BBC Breakfast was on air on BBC One and the News Channel, and Radio 4's flagship Today programme, which was cancelled yesterday, went ahead this morning.
The NUJ is planning another 48-hour strike on November 15 and 16.