The Increased Pegs Regarding 'Smash'

NBC is definitely at your residence giant bet-that the nation's unique Tv program in regards to the building from the Broadway audio, "Smash, inches will certainly in fact come to be one particular. Mike Schechner provides specifications Dinner Separate.

The chain, Sito Moncler within the creating of an Broadway musical technology, might elite February. 6, nevertheless the publicity force has now began. Your community comes with create advertisements, up and running airing advertisings about NBC and additionally unveiled a strong internet critique, sparking kick in movie theater and additionally TELEVISION SET blogs and forums. A while back, the particular express released this Uma Thurman would seem in a very multiepisode arc. From monday, your community processed through security your "Smash" preliminary to get many hundreds of Broadway enterprise people, this includes celebrities Fran Dreary along with Mike Rickman, within Brand-new York's Art gallery about Modern-day Craft.

The Unique Young lady: On 'Smash, no Katharine McPhee, pictured these, takes on any untested small occasional actress auditioning in the head place in a very Marilyn Monroe play, growing versus any wise cinema expert.

A backstage theatre outlining all the kick off to a fantastic Marilyn Monroe play, Belstaff Italia "Smash" shows a number regarding giant labels. Steven Spielberg is known as a company. Anjelica Huston and even Debra Playing superstar, and crop up vocalist Katharine McPhee, an important ex - finalist about Fox's "American Idol. inch With the initial, an important accomplished ingnue enjoyed just by Microsoft. McPhee quickly scans the blogosphere to the direct place involving Marilyn; Megan Hilty is cast as your ex opposition, an important informed movie theater experienced person.

NBC frantically requires a struck. Up to date this specific TV SET winter, the nation's prime-time demonstrates have got averaged approximately 3. 3 trillion visitors approximately 20 plus forty nine yoa, along 11% coming from recently, depending on Nielsen stats. There's any shine involving anticipation the following workweek while using yield in certainty exhibit "Fear Matter, inch nonetheless NBC's downfall will be the most important with the nearly four most-watched TV ON PC networking sites on the You. Erinarians., in between which in turn NBC provides huge graded Virtually no. contemplate.

"Smash" moreover presents any try pertaining to NBC's innovative artistic the main one, Canada Goose Robert Greenblatt. It does not take 1st fresh scripted express in NBC this altogether stuff animals Mr. Greenblatt's imprimatur. She or he produced the particular express using the pup around Thinking about receiving, while this individual have become chairman involving NBC Fun within the Comcast Corp. is actually takeover involving father or mother supplier NBCUniversal. Mr. Greenblatt, just who commenced creating "Smash" for the continue occupation like celebration lead designer with Showtime Cpa affiliate networks, is known for a record inside live entertainment herself, to provide a manufacturer in the Broadway express "9 for you to 5. inches

"I'm i think engaged, inches Mr. Greenblatt proclaimed involving "Smash" this kind of workweek, Belstaff Outlet right after consulting your mounted in The big apple.

The present comes with made enough quick discussion inside live entertainment universe. It was subsequently constructed simply by couple of major show companies: contributor Theresa Rebeck, as their participate in "Seminar" will be relating to Broadway, and even movie director Erika Mayer, in whose reprise involving "On a specific Working day You can understand Forever" just simply launched (find out look at, article D11). Different from "Glee, inches which in turn makes use of normally active audio, "Smash" highlights brand-new tracks just by Broadway's "Hairspray" composer-lyricist crew, Marc Shaiman and even Scott Wittman, and a number of well-known beats.

Jordan Roth, lead designer involving Broadway's Jujamcyn Theaters, claims he can be set in place to generate cameo looks around not one but two violence. All the show's makers thought as soon as possible pertaining to doing from a genuine Broadway reveal pertaining to Marilyn Monroe from your set, an understanding that will excites Mr. Roth, as their Broadway theaters get located presents by simply Mr. Mayer. (NBC claims which usually notion remains to be plausible later in life, yet comes with going without shoes would likely bring ages to make sure you accomplish. )#)

Some television-industry watchers problem whether or not "Smash" may well accomplish above a distinct segment show projected audience. "Is this kind of able to come to be way too The big apple? It looks like which is a thought, inches affirms Brad Adgate, an important advertising analyzer by means of Horizon Advertising.

Mr. Greenblatt referred to during an appointment that this exhibit could be precarious, still included that she is convinced Broadway carries a large enchantment replicated inside the worldwide recognition with certainty skilled individual indicates. "It's varied and will also be attention-getting and you will be a huge celebration. The ones will be the hallmarks about precisely what found . often be executing, inches they mentioned.

There's equally your concern with your own home musical technology Tv program process is without a doubt starting to dress yourself in narrow. Nonetheless Fox's "Glee, inch any music-laced express a couple of high-school joy pub, stays with the finest 20 pertaining to tv audiences relating to the years about 19 and even forty nine, these have found it has the credit score get rid of 25% in this cluster up to now the following TELEVISION FOR COMPUTER winter in comparison to 12 months sooner, depending on Nielsen info given by He. (He, for instance the Wall membrane Avenue Daybook, is without a doubt owned or operated simply by Info Corp. )#) This could certainly sign an issue just for "Smash, inches Mr. Adgate pronounces. "You might create a declare that they have got can be bought slightly the later part of to dancemaybe it should have ended up conducted recently, inches they claims.

Though "Glee" has been a first reached using critics plus target demographic the moment the application debuted in '09, experts agree it is belittled not too long ago just for sporadic character types plus deal. Some other audio present, CBS's "Viva Laughlin, inches using Hugh Jackman, flopped on 2007.

At NBC, business owners point out a fabulous multilevel transformation can take ages, additionally they are certainly not relying upon whatever one exhibit. On first Feb, NBC might air flow the particular Tremendously Serving, accompanied quickly simply by singing-competition express "The Speech, inch the network's handful of brand-new visitors. "Smash" could make the debut the next time, i really hope up coming show about "The Speech. inch

"We're extremely customer within the turn-around, inches Mr. Greenblatt proclaimed. "But 'Smash' and also 'The Voice' are actually imperative that you possessing that will going. "

Anita Levy-Sisk can be longing for the particular debut. The particular amateur dramatics tutor during Hingham Graduating high school outdoor Boston ma pronounces the scholars will be babbling fewer on the subject of "Glee" compared with these employed to, and also this girl desires "Smash" will give you your more complete confirm the live entertainment universe. "It's certainly not aiming to become cheesy, inches the girl claims. "It may resemble it really is looking to come to be inventive. "

Report Production Witnessed to get Grains

The Ough. Utes. Unit about Farming anticipate file international generation involving grain as well as ingrown toenail mainly because maqui berry farmers all over the world interact to earlier times year's excessive wheat price tags.

The elevated production can be stopping all the profits from Ough. Utes. plants offshore, Canada Goose Expedition Parka using the USDA relating to Ending friday trimming back on their foreign trade estimations pertaining to grain as well as soybeans for the reason that importers have an overabundance areas that to order products.

The USDA reduce estimate Ough. Utes. soybean exports to at least one. 3 thousand bushels within the 2011-12 promoting twelve months.

The boosting offers will be assisting to lower the price of food stuff worldwide. Friday's USDA scalp account came out each day as soon as the Usa Nations' foodstuff organization explained their list associated with food stuff price tags acquired gotten to the junior high in a straight line calendar month. This list click an archive for March.

"High charges granted maqui berry farmers in the world to set up extra ingrown toenail, Canada Goose soybeans, wheatwhatever they might, inch claimed Level Schultz, main analyzer using Northstar Thing, the Minneapolis brokerage firm.

Exploding demand from customers for surfacing real estate markets along with the climb in the ethanol market get influenced materials costs towards hereditary levels recently. Hammer toe futures, Canada Goose Chilliwack which in turn dealt here $3 your bushel for the purpose of high of one more several years, fixed an archive involving pretty much $8 a fabulous bushel around May.

Futures costs intended for grain, hammer toe along with soybeans in the Chi town Enter with Exchange most chop down in Friday's survey. Hammer toe intended for 12 , transport established itself all the way down check out. 5 pennies, or even 0. 8%, in order to $5. 8550 the bushel, as the Present cards soybean commitment fell into 27. 5 pennies, or even 3. 3%, in order to $11. '07 some sort of bushel.

The USDA elevated it is entire world grain formulation predicted from 0. 8% via it has the Don't forget national outlook on life to some log 689 trillion plenty with the latest plant calendar year, Expedition Parka that extends via August to make sure you Could. This firm as well talked about world ingrown toenail generation can reach an archive involving 867. 5 zillion all kinds, motivated with a 4% escalate from the believed Asian ingrown toenail plant. The actual hammer toe plant twelve months keeps going out of Sept for you to July.

U. Utes. wheat along with soybean selling prices experience yanked spine this specific tumble while soaring items all over the world possess chop towards foreign trade desire. Which has prompted local ranges to make back.

The USDA reduce it is prediction to get Oughout. Utes. whole wheat exports by means of 5% via continue week so that you can 925 k bushels along with brought up their prediction pertaining to end-of-season stocks from 6%. The actual bureau in addition lower the country's predicted for the purpose of Ough. Utes. soybean exports to at least one. 3 thousand bushels for that latest scalp month, the 25-million-bushel lower via it has the Don't forget national projection.

Grains charges are generally unexpected to make sure you increase following that calendar year because they would throughout 2011, stated Doug Bergman, analyzer having RCM Tool Control. He / she explained demand from customers should take a moment so that you can recreate, plus maqui berry farmers will likely not reduce generation so long as there're making money.

That is just not to express price ranges won't boost if perhaps unhealthy temperature, like a very long cause with dryness or possibly substantial down pours, considerably destroyed plant life.

"If we will go to the major move, it will should are derived from the next thunderstorm, inch Mr. Bergman stated.

David Bowie says yes to futuristic musical based on his hits

There's a starman waiting in the sky,Canada goose David Bowie sang. But he need wait in the sky no longer: plans have been announced this weekend for the first full-scale musical based on the songs of the totemic British performer. A futuristic fantasy called Heroes: The Musical will tell the story of Major Tom, as well as the starman and a "young dude" called David and will have its world premiere in March at the IndigO2 venue, inside London's former Millennium Dome.

Bowie, who is one of Britain's most successful songwriters,Canada goose jacka rarely gives permission for his songs to be used and has never allowed them to be used in this way before. "We could not really believe it when they gave us permission," said Deep Singh, who wrote the musical. "His people had warned us that it was very unlikely that he would be interested and that he had been asked many times before."

Singh, a former screenwriter,Canada goose parka believes that Bowie gave consent because he emphasised that his story was not a nostalgic recreation of the 1970s but was set in the future and aimed to show the timeless relevance of Bowie's lyrics. Other recent shows featuring the hit songs from the back catalogue of bands such as Queen, Abba, and Madness have all had West End success by offering audiences a chance to wallow in memories of their youth.

"We did not want Mr Bowie to think it was going to be a tribute show,Expedition parka and that seems to have had an effect," Singh added. He is putting the show together for one major showcase performance in the spring in aid of arts and community charities. If the performance is a critical success, he hopes that Bowie, who lives in New York, will grant it a longer life.

"Mr Bowie's representatives have been incredibly supportive when we have asked them for things and yet hands-off in terms of letting us get on with the project," said Singh.

The villains of Singh's story are the patrolling Diamond Dogs and the "ruthless Smart Simon" who has created, and now controls, a dystopian empire set in an indeterminate future. Heroes will use a cast of more than 30 performers accompanied by a live band and will feature around 20 songs, including Heroes, The Man Who Sold The World, The Jean Genie and Let's Dance.

The director and choreographer of the show is Matthew Gould, who has worked as resident director on West End shows including Les Miserables and Cats.

"We have a had a lot of freedom when it comes to the dance and the way we tell the story," he said. "Bowie was a big fan of mime and of contemporary dance, and we will use some of his 80s dance music too. But I wanted to use some of the street moves of a group like Flawless as well for our younger performers, combining it with the modern dance ideas you see in a contemporary troupe like DV8."

All proceeds will go to three charities, the Orpheus Centre, Albert & Friends Instant Circus and Youth Music Theatre UK, that use the performing arts to help underprivileged and disabled young people to learn new skills. Some of those to benefit from the charities will also take part in the show. "The key thing for us is that it is not just karaoke, or a singalong," said Gould. "We want the audience to become involved with the characters. There is a fear that a whole generation might not get to hear Bowie's extraordinary music without a show like this."

In 2008 Bowie was said to have agreed to allow some of his songs to be used in a musical version of the cult sci-fi film The Man Who Fell to Earth, directed by Nicolas Roeg. But the musical has yet to be produced and the original 1976 film, which starred Bowie as an alien, did not feature his music.

Iran Ayatollah Speaks Out Over U.N. Report

The supreme leader of Iran added his voice on Thursday to the country’s bellicose backlash against the incriminating United Nations report about the Iranian nuclear program,Canada goose jakke warning any potential military attackers they would face a “strong slap and iron fist.”
The remarks by the leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalated Iran’s portrayal of itself as the victim of a campaign to foment “Iranophobia” mounted by corrupt foreign states. But the remarks also appeared to reflect growing concern in the Iranian hierarchy that Israel and possibly the United States might use the report as a justification to bomb sites in Iran suspected of harboring facilities for the development of nuclear weapons.

The report, released Tuesday by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear proliferation watchdog of the United Nations,Canadian jakke cataloged Iranian behavior in recent years that made what it called a credible case that Iran had been working on a nuclear bomb. The report also suggested that Iran had been working on ways to deliver such a bomb via a missile warhead. The conclusions amounted to the biggest credibility challenge Iran has faced in its effort to convince the world that its nuclear program is only for peaceful ends.

Iranian officials denounced the report as a fabrication that they said had been dictated by the United States,Canada goose parka and they focused on its possible use by Iran’s enemies to justify a pre-emptive military strike. But up until Thursday, only Ayatollah Khamenei’s subordinates had publicly castigated the report’s findings.

“If the thought of invasion against the Islamic republic of Iran crosses anybody’s mind he must ready himself to receive a strong slap and iron fist,”Canada goose trillium the ayatollah said in an address to officers at a Tehran military academy that was publicized in Iran’s state-run news media.

“The enemies, especially the United States and its puppets and the Zionist regime, should know that the Iranian nation will not invade any country or nation, but it will respond to any invasion or threat with full force in a way that it will break up invaders from within,” the ayatollah said.

At the United Nations on Thursday, Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general, pleaded for restraint on all sides, apparently in reaction to the speculation that Israel may attack suspected Iranian nuclear facilities. A United Nations spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said that Mr. Ban had reiterated “his belief that a negotiated rather than a military solution is the only way to resolve this issue,” Reuters reported.

In Washington, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said a military strike on Iran would have a “serious impact” on the Middle East and possibly on American forces in the region, without seriously disrupting Iran’s nuclear program. “You’ve got to be careful of unintended consequences here,” Mr. Panetta said, reiterating the Obama administration’s view that diplomatic pressure and international sanctions were the preferred courses of action.

The United States, France and Britain have said the Iranians must answer the questions raised in the United Nations report or face further penalties, beyond the four rounds of sanctions already imposed by the United Nations Security Council. But the prospects for further Security Council sanctions are bleak at best because of objections by Russia and China. All five powers are veto-wielding members of the Security Council.

On Wednesday, Russia criticized the United Nations report on Iran as a politicized compilation of previous reports and said further sanctions were unwarranted. China, which said it needed time to study the report, officially sided with Russia.

“We, as always, believe that dialogue and cooperation are the only effective approaches for properly resolving the Iran nuclear issue,” a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, told reporters at a news briefing in Beijing that was reported by Xinhua, China’s official news agency. “Imposing pressure and sanctions cannot fundamentally resolve the issue.”

Euro Crisis Unleashes Old Stereotypes

As an American somewhat steeped in political correctness, I was shocked when I moved to France in 2001 by how commonly and unashamedly many Europeans invoked shopworn stereotypes of each other. In the era of the expanding European Union and the introduction of the euro, it struck me as incongruous (if not offensive) to hear a luncheon speaker crack jokes about Spaniards taking siestas or to listen as French acquaintances belittled the Swiss and Belgians.Belstaff　

The most central and pervasive European prejudice concerns the north-south divide: that Northern Europeans are serious, industrious, and efficient, while Southern Europeans are passionate, chaotic, and indolent. As with all stereotypes, there are (perhaps uncomfortable) grains of truth in these characterizations. But their perpetuation ignores ample evidence to the contrary found in every European nation, north and south.Belstaff Outlet

One of the most disturbing aspects of the euro crisis is that it has reawakened—and perhaps even exacerbated—this divide. The crisis is centered mainly in Southern Europe, of course, having begun in Greece, spread to Portugal, and now threatening even Italy and Spain. (Ireland is the sole northern country to have sought a bailout.) And the burden of bailing out the "profligate" south will be borne mainly by Germany and other northern countries, so it's no wonder old attitudes kick in. Belstaff Giubbotti

Politicians aren't making matters any better. This week's Bloomberg Businessweek includes a graphic summarizing some of the insults they've hurled each others' way during the crisis. While most of the quotes aren't nationalistic in tone, the press has more than filled the gap with its own brand of name-calling, aiming particular scorn at the Greeks.Moncler Outlet

The invocation of the north-south divide isn't confined to private asides. In a speech in Dublin on Oct. 27, Irish finance minister, Michael Noonan, tried to distance his country from Greece. "We have succeeded in the last couple of months in breaking the perception that somehow or another we were some kind of displaced Mediterranean country in the North Atlantic," he said. "We are not. We are a North European economy."

The stereotyping also isn't limited to Europeans. American bloggers have had a field day criticizing coddled Europeans. (The brush strokes tend to be fairly broad.) Pravda's Web site carries an article that playfully refers to Greece as "the kingdom of lazy people." And Taiwan's Next Media Animation put its own distinctive spin on the euro zone crisis with a new video about the proposed (and now abandoned) Greek referendum on the country's latest bailout plan. It's loaded with stereotypes—but demands leeway because it's satire.

The damage to attitudes and perceptions in Europe may take as long to fix as the continent's financial situation.

Hit squads to swoop on 500 care homes to root out neglect and tackle abusive treatment

Andrew Lansley is to send hit squads into 500 care homes to root out examples of the neglect of the elderly.
The Health Secretary will today order inspectors to carry out unannounced spot checks on residential homes to flush out and tackle the scandal of poor and abusive treatment suffered by the frail and vulnerable.
The probes will concentrate on whether older people are treated with dignity, whether their privacy is respected, whether staff treat them with compassion – and whether they are regularly fed nutritious food.
If poor standards are found, the care quality watchdog will be able to demand improvements and, in extreme cases, the complete closure of homes.
In addition, inspectors will carry out unannounced spot checks of 50 hospitals and 150 centres for people with learning difficulties.
The move follows the publication earlier this month of the results of 100 unannounced hospital inspections, which revealed that care of the elderly at one in five trusts was so bad that the law had effectively been broken.
The reports found that only 45 of the trusts were fully compliant against required standards of dignity and nutrition.

Now Mr Lansley wants the Care Quality Commission watchdog to root out similar failings in our care homes. In May, undercover filming exposed systematic abuse of patients at the Winterbourne View home for people with learning difficulties.
Although the CQC does inspect care homes, it does few unannounced visits, which are more effective at discovering poor care than planned visits.
In a major speech today, Mr Lansley will claim Labour turned a blind eye to poor performance in some parts of the NHS for years – and in some cases exacerbated the problems through badly-negotiated ‘private finance initiative’ deals which left some hospitals struggling with huge amounts of debt.

The Health Secretary will also announce help for around 20 trusts struggling with massive PFI debt, including offering them one-off loads.
Mr Lansley will say: ‘Too often, we deny the experience of patients and their family members who have been at the sharp end of appalling treatment. That is why I asked the CQC to do more unannounced inspections in our hospitals and in care homes, and to take tough action if what they find is unacceptable.
‘I want to modernise the NHS because I believe it can and should offer excellent care to every patient, no matter where they live, how old they are or how sick they are; combining access for all with excellence for all.

‘I want the NHS to lead the world in everything it does, not just some of what it does. Unless we face up to its challenges; unless we take action when it lets patients down, it will never be able to do this.’
He added: ‘Where there is great care, we will celebrate it. But wherever there are pockets of poor performance, we will root it out.’
The CQC will be asked to carry out the 700 unannounced inspections, which will focus on core standards of dignity such as privacy, compassionate treatment and ensuring good standards of nutrition are met.
This includes 500 inspections in elderly care homes, 50 in hospitals and 150 in homes for adults with learning difficulties.

Death or Disco? Preserve Your Loved Ones as Their Favorite Vinyl Record

(ZURICH) — Tupac Shakur ended up as a joint. The long-circulated rumor was recently confirmed by two members of his former band Outlawz, EDI Mean and Young Noble. In 1996, the two musicians actually mixed the ashes of the assassinated hip-hop star with marijuana and smoked it just like Tupac had asked in his song Black Jesus: "Last Wishes, niggas, smoke my ashes."

Of course, Tupac's last wish is hardly common. Still, it isn't as unusual as one may think. The number of people choosing an alternative to the peaceful coffin or urn of ashes is increasing every year. If fate has already gambled away half of your battle, the reasoning goes, you should at least be able to organize your departure entirely on your own terms.

In Switzerland, natural burials are very popular, due in part to the "ash freedom" laws: anyone who chooses to be cremated may also decide where the ashes are cast. Scattered under a favorite tree? Along a favorite trail? In the river, on whose banks you stole your first kiss? Basically everything is permitted. (See the top 10 unsolved hip-hop murders.)

Such "gone with the wind" burials are undoubtedly very poetic and moving moments of farewell. And yet there's a catch: once the ashes are gone, all is gone. The memory of an individual is reduced to a thought, without a fixed place of remembrance or a tangible symbol in which the remains can be preserved.

Nature lovers can work around this problem elegantly by asking that their ashes be turned into fertilizer for a newly planted young tree. As the tree grows, it absorbs the ground cover in its roots, its branches and foliage soon flourishing into a natural grave.

Diamonds and drinks
The pan-European company Algordanza (meaning "memory" in Romansh), founded in 2004, offers a relic particularly well-suited for widows: it converts the ashes of dead loved ones into faux diamonds. The synthetic stones are manufactured in a laboratory in Neuchatel; depending on how much boron has been deposited in the body, the diamonds have a weaker or stronger blue shimmer. The process from order to delivery usually takes two to four months, and the price depends on the carat weight of the gemstone — between 4,800 and 10,000 Swiss francs ($5,300 to $11,085). (See why happens to your social networks when you die.)

An eternal end as a tree or a piece of jewelry? Dandy's and rock 'n' rollers laugh at the idea. Their perpetuation should of course be staged according to the way they lived their lives: unconventional, loud, hedonistic. Actor James Doohan (Scotty in the TV series "Star Trek") and LSD guru Timothy Leary had particularly cool send-offs. They both had their ashes attached to a rocket and sent into space. The price tag? Around $10,000.

Another original — but far more sustainable — offer comes from the British company And Vinyly, who rewrote the well known RIP (Rest in Peace) to RIV — Rest in Vinyl. Specifically: the ashes of the deceased are processed into a working vinyl record. The simplest version costs $3,100, but that will get you 30 vinyl copies (enough for friends and relatives) onto which music or a recorded message can be pressed. One particularly spooky option: opt against a song or message and leave only the eerie crackling of ash to be heard on the blank disc. (See TIME's video, "YouTomb: Where the Rich and Famous Spend Eternity.")

Of course, it can all get much more extravagant. For $786, you can get a custom tune composed; and for a bit more cash, you can circulate your records in shops around the world. Or choose the ultimate option, which will run you $5,500: James Hague, a painter at the National Portrait Gallery, will use residual ash and acrylics to paint your face in gorgeous pastel colors onto the album covers.

Unlike Algordanza, whose diamond offer is strictly limited to human ashes, And Vinyly will also process your pet's ashes onto a record.

Those for who want to take Tupac's joint solution to the next level, should head on over to Thailand. There, a new drug concoction called "Tai Hong," in which cooked leaves of the Kratom tree are mixed with freshly cremated ashes, is quickly gaining popularity. Supposedly, not only does the drink have an exquisite flavor, but it also elicits a heightened state of consciousness — usually not for too long, but just enough time to share an unforgettable farewell.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097330,00.html#ixzz1bIhRvc4C

Sunny spell blown away as gales and rain batter Britain

Millions of us have enjoyed basking in sunshine and warmth as the unseasonably balmy autumn just kept going...and going.
But it seems winter has finally taken a grip, as gales and rain battered parts of Britain yesterday.
The clouds and wind brought an abrupt change to the sunny weekend when  temperatures had soared to 19C.
The arrival of winter proper was confirmed when the Met Office issued a severe weather warning tonight for north-west England and northern Wales.
Flash flooding was a threat with predictions of up to 60mm of rain overnight while gusts of up to 70mph howled in.
Forecasters said gales of up to 50mph would persist until at least Thursday although the worst of the wind and rain would be over by Tuesday.
Just two weeks ago, the country was baking in a mini-heatwave as the mercury rocketed to 30C for some. But on Tuesday,  temperatures are set to be a maximum of 14C in the South and only 11C in the North of England.
Wednesday and Thursday will be even cooler with more blustery showers and temperatures peaking at 13C, just above average for October.
The first ground frosts of autumn will hit the South and North on Tuesday night, with temperatures plummeting to –2C overnight.
Helen Chivers, of the Met Office, said: ‘We will see heavy and persistent rain across parts of north-west England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
‘It will also be very windy in northern England and north Wales. The next few days will see more blustery conditions, with sunshine and showers.’
October started with some of the warmest temperatures for decades but transport chiefs are planning ahead as some forecasters warn of a ‘Siberian’ winter.
The Department of Transport said it has a 2million ton stockpile of salt and grit – its biggest ever. The Highways Agency has 500 salt-spreading trucks ready and Network Rail has spent ￡40million on heating and de-icing units.
Snow has already fallen in the Scottish mountains, starting on Sunday night and with up to 6in expected by this morning.
Shrouded in early morning mist, the South Downs in East Sussex took on an almost mystical quality today.
And the sun's rays soon pierced the fog to create more wonderful scenes.
In a warning to motorists who will probably have to scrape ice from their cars this week Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, said: 'It's going to be pretty cold everywhere across the UK on Wednesday night, with widespread ground frost expected in the whole of the UK and perhaps air frost in places too.'
Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said yesterday: ‘This is the first cold snap of autumn and Monday is the changeover day.
‘Monday afternoon sees the risk of very heavy outbreaks of rain in northern England and Scotland, potentially gale-force winds and thunderstorms, and snow expected over 500m in northern Scotland.
‘All parts will be much colder from Tuesday, with wintry showers of hail, sleet and possible snow on the Pennines and North Yorkshire Moors, and hail and sleet in the Peak District.
‘Wednesday afternoon will see sharp showers in those areas, and we could see snow to lower levels in northern and north-eastern Scotland.’
Mr Morgan said that once the gale force winds subside, temperatures will fall further.
Forecasts of Arctic weather has raised fears of a major spike in oil prices for home heating.
Experts said elderly people living on their own could freeze to death if they cannot get their oil tanks filled because of raising costs or because delivery lorries cannot get through on snow-covered roads.
Last winter the two million homes and businesses which rely on heating oil for cooking and central heating saw prices double in a few weeks, from 40p per litre to 80p per litre.
Many households shivered as suppliers battled to get them enough oil to cope in the severe weather which saw tanks freeze when temperatures plunged to nearly -20 in some places.
Oil lorries could not leave UK refineries on schedule because of treacherous road conditions as blizzards struck.
Now the industry is appealing to people to stock up early and take advantage of lower prices now before they soar with the onset of winter.
Chris Bale, director of whichoilsupplier.co.uk, said: ‘With limited oil available and huge demand, the national price went through the roof and a large number of consumers, especially those in the countryside, were left with no fuel for weeks on end last winter.
‘We are encouraging people to plan ahead and ensure they have sufficient kerosene to see them through the winter.’

BEE GEE ROBIN GIBB RUSHED TO HOSPITAL

THE Bee Gees star Robin Gibb was taken to hospital in an emergency yesterday suffering from “severe” abdominal pains.
The singer and songwriter, who spearheaded the campaign backed by the Daily Express for a permanent memorial to Bomber Command, was taken ill at his home in Thame, Oxfordshire.
His wife Dwina was at his side as he was rushed by ambulance to a specialist stomach unit.
Mr Gibb, 61, who is teetotal and vegetarian, is known to have suffered with “terrible” stomach pains for years, but doctors have been unable to establish the exact cause.
The showbusiness legend lost his twin brother Maurice eight years ago due to complications relating to a twisted intestine.
In Robin Gibb’s case, the problem is thought to stem from his liver.
“An ambulance rushed over to pick him up,” an onlooker said. “His wife was with him and she obviously looked very worried. He looked in severe pain.”
Last night, a friend of the star said: “He would never go to hospital unless he really had to. He is a very brave man. We don’t know if it is a recurrence of the previous problem or if it is something else entirely.” Mr Gibb had to cancel tours in America and Brazil earlier this year after suffering with similar crippling pains.
And last year he had emergency abdominal surgery to remove part of his intestine after excruciating pain at a concert in Belgium.
“It was a shock,” he admitted later, “I was told my intestine could burst at any time and I could be dead within half an hour.”
Today, he was due to perform a charity single with soldiers in Colchester to raise money for this year’s Poppy Appeal.
The performance was to be recorded for the BBC’s Songs Of Praise next month. The concert now hangs in the balance.
Mr Gibb is a central figure in the successful campaign for a permanent memorial to honour Bomber Command for their actions during the Second World War.
The singer is scheduled to perform at London’s Natural History Museum on November 8 with fellow music star Jim Dooley to raise more funds for the memorial in central London.
A charity auction will include a Lancaster flight in Canada, and days out with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Red Arrows.

RFU gives Martin Johnson deadline to say if he wants to keep England job

Martin Johnson has been given a deadline of Monday week to indicate whether he wishes to continue as England manager in the wake of his side's failed World Cup campaign. The mood at Twickenham is also hardening against the players, whose off-field conduct during the tournament is to be investigated. Some have been warned they could face suspension from England's Six Nations campaign as a result of their behaviour in New Zealand. Johnson's role as manager is now under fresh scrutiny in the form of an independent review led by the former England prop Fran Cotton, commissioned by the Rugby Football Union's acting chief executive, Martyn Thomas.

This latest development also increases the pressure on Rob Andrew, who indicated at the weekend that he would be effectively deciding Johnson's fate. It now appears the positions of both himself and Johnson are under increasing threat.

Thomas said the off-field headlines surrounding the squad had been "wholly unacceptable" and said the RFU's legal officer, Karina Vleck, would be "investigating all the allegations of misconduct off the field". Among the possible sanctions would be fines or suspensions for breaching the code of conduct agreement all the players had signed up to.

Johnson's future is likely to be the first issue decided. "It's not his decision whether he remains in the post, I want to make that clear," said Thomas. "I've given him seven to 14 days [from the day England flew home] to advise me of his position. What I need to know is if he wishes to be considered for appointment on 1 January. That's not to say he will or will not be appointed.

"If Martin walks and we have to appoint a temporary coach for the Six Nations, that's fine. We've wasted a lot of time since 2003. I really want to make sure we get this right this time. We've got to take stock and do this right. I spoke to Martin immediately after the game He was pretty upset and it wasn't the moment to discuss the future with him."

Cotton, a one-time RFU vice-chairman as well as Lions prop, has already been vocal in his criticism of Johnson. He will lead a two- or three-strong panel likely to include a member with no current rugby connections. Johnson's contract expires on 31 December and, though he led England to a Six Nations victory in the spring, the World Cup campaign in New Zealand was a disaster on and off the pitch, the quarter-final defeat by France last Saturday following a series of embarrassing disciplinary incidents. "We've had internal reviews in the past and I don't think they are the solution," said Thomas.

Cotton told Sky Sports News: "Martin has now been in charge three and a half years and it is very difficult to understand what style of play this England rugby team is all about. The basic skills of rugby at that level just aren't good enough and I haven't seen an improvement. The players have got to take a huge responsibility. When they go on the pitch they are in charge of their own game and it was very obvious in this World Cup that there seems to be a lack of leadership."

Cotton's team will be charged with reviewing the performance of the RFU's professional rugby department and assessing Andrew's report into the World Cup campaign. The independent panel will undertake its review in November and make recommendations to the RFU's management board and the council on 2 December.

Andrew announced after the France defeat that he had accepted the new position of professional rugby director. That role was created to oversee the whole England set-up and the RFU's relationship with Premiership Rugby and the Championship but the appointment is yet to be formally approved. Cotton's panel will have the power to recommend who should lead the professional rugby department.

The fact that Andrew is not a guaranteed choice will also open the door to the possibility of Sir Clive Woodward returning to Twickenham. Martyn Thomas's backing of Woodward led to the departure of John Steele as chief executive early last summer and the fall-out has led to fresh calls from clubs for Thomas to follow him.

The latest initiatives mean there are now five different reviews being undertaken into different aspects of the RFU's management. It may be difficult to bring fresh disciplinary charges against players whose cases have already been dealt with. Manu Tuilagi has already been fined for his ferry jump and three players were officially reprimanded following an alleged incident in a Dunedin hotel. The ball-swapping saga also resulted in two members of England's back-room staff being suspended for one match.