Tea time

Ever-upbeat Peter Salmon (10/1 in the 2012 DG Stakes with Stan James) has invited his staff at MediaCityUK for a cup of tea tonight. And possibly a drink.

He's persuaded caterers Baxter Storey to take on Carol Wilkinson, from the old BBC site in Oxford Road, as a tea lady, complete with trolley.

It's not clear whose paying for the drinks. If all 2,000 on site turn up, the event might cost a number of licence-fees - which won't go down well with hair-shirted self-nominated DG contenders like Quentin Letts at the Daily Mail. And Peter won't even be there - summoned to London for a Mark Thompson summit.

• 1030 update: Ariel reporter Rumeana Jahangir upbraids me; apparently staff will pay for their own "food/tea". Let's see what that does to the attendance. 
• 1040 update: Storm in tea-cup mounts  - isn't tea free all round BBC MediaCityUK offices, if you make it yourself ?
• 1045 update: invite from Mr Salmon apparently ends thus "If you can make it, have one on me, tea or otherwise. Best Peter"