Britain’s early spring warm spell is set to come to an abrupt end this week with the arrival of rain and colder temperatures.

Much of the country will see the mercury return to single figures after an unusually dry and sunny interlude to March.

An early heatwave saw temperatures rise as high as 20C last week in parts.

Scotland had its hottest day of the year so far on Friday, with a high of 20.2C recorded at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire.

But it may be too early to put away the winter coats as the country is set to experience a ‘cold plunge’, the Met Office has said.

From Monday, colder air and winds will see temperatures fall along with some showers towards the middle of the week and even possibly snow in Scotland.

Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said a new weather system coming in from the north west would turn conditions colder for most.

But he added that temperatures would stay in the mid teens for the vast majority of southern England until Wednesday.

He said: ‘Wet weather continues to spread south and eastwards through Tuesday.

‘Colder weather moving in from Wednesday. A notable drop in temperatures, wintry showers, particularly across the north of the UK and staying chilly into Thursday as well but a little drier.’

Forecaster Alex Deakin said conditions would return to around average for the time of year later this week, Sky News reported.

But he added that the drop could be a ‘shock to the system’ for some after the warm spell.

He said: ‘Temperatures by Wednesday (will be) single digits for many, and that’s the max, so it’s going to get cold at night.

‘Probably the peak of that cold will be on Wednesday night, that’s when the cold plunge really comes in.’

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The couple’s solicitor, Catherine Lee, from legal firm Irwin Mitchell, added: “Whilst the trust has recognised the severity of the failings Aarav suffered and the need for improvements, it’s now vital that staff are supported to uphold the highest standard of care at all times.”

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The event, which will include live music, original storytelling and newly created animation will take centre stage at the James Holt Concert Hall in Kirkbymoorside, offering audiences of all ages the chance to experience a brand new creative collaboration.

The Adventures of the Bear and the Angel, brings together the talents of local historian, naturalist and author Martin Watts, whose much loved Bear stories have charmed readers for years, and the famous Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band, under the musical directorship of the 2024 Brass Band England Conductor of the Year, Sarah Woodward.

Martin, who served as curator at the Ryedale Folk Museum for around 15 year, has created an uplifting tale of courage, friendship and hope, inspired by the real-life bear and beetle who reside in the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens where he worked for a number of years.

At the heart of the story is a group of friends who set out to help a stranger, confronting challenges, “important people” and their own fears along the way. Celebrating themes of kindness, determination and imagination it is a show for all ages.

The idea for the project emerged after a conversation between Martin and Sarah who was fresh from attending the Brass in Concert festival at The Glass House in Gateshead.

Sarah was keen to explore how live brass performance could be combined with film and narrative right here in Ryedale.

Knowing Martin’s creative work—and his role in documenting the band’s own history—the partnership quickly gathered momentum.

To bring the visual world of the story to life, the team enlisted award winning animator Andy Burns, a filmmaker with more than 20 years’ experience and a strong record of community-focused projects. Burns’ animation has been crafted to work hand in hand with live performance, creating an immersive backdrop for the music and narration.

The result is an evening designed to offer something genuinely different for audiences: an imaginative blend of live brass music, storytelling and cinema suitable for all ages, families, schools, and anyone with an interest in local creativity.

The project has been supported by J and W Kirby Historic Conservation, The Yorkshire Quince Company and Salt and Steam.

The Adventures of the Bear and the Angel takes place at 6pm on April 11at the James Holt Concert Hall.

Tickets are available at: trybooking.com/uk/FZCU

The event, organised by Darlington Borough Council, marked the end of Ramadan with a vibrant showcase of culture and creativity.

Visitors moved through the market spaces on Sunday, March 22, taking in a lively mix of Eid inspired crafts, traditional henna art and music that added to the festive atmosphere.

Stalls throughout the Market Hall offered a variety of handmade items, drawing families and visitors to browse and take part in the celebrations.

Musicians and performers brought energy to the afternoon, creating a welcoming space where the community could come together and celebrate. The combination of crafts, food and music turned the town centre into a lively hub of activity for the occasion.

The free event provided an open and inclusive way for people to experience Eid festivities in the heart of Darlington, with the Market Hall serving as a focal point for today’s celebrations.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Eid ul Fitr at Darlington Market Hall (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death… I can assure them it’s much more serious than that.” During these perilous and seemingly doom-laden days, Bill Shankly’s famous quote will doubtless come across as hyperbolic drivel to some, and who can blame them. But as a summary of, and insight into the intense, all-consuming passion for the game, that nugget still hits the spot. Perhaps, never more so than today – Newcastle vs Sunderland, one of the great footballing derbies.

As with most bitter rivalries in sport the real tale began off the pitch – this North East battle was forged from a history of economic competition, jealousy and animosity that has simmered throughout the centuries, coming to a boil when these two teams play against each other.

“It’s probably the most intense derby game there is,” said Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. “The North East is a hotbed for football, obsessed with the game. This is an intense rivalry, one that we respect.”

Which brings us to today’s match. Having respect for the “intense rivalry” is something that Newcastle fans accused their team of not having in December when, thanks to a Nick Woltemade own goal, Sunderland won 1-0. That in and of itself was bad enough if you are of a black and white persuasion, but it was the manner of the defeat as much as the loss itself that rankled with the Newcastle faithful – to use a sporting cliché (apologies to the literary types reading this…) they didn’t show up.

That makes today all the more intriguing. Throw that in with the fact today’s hosts cannot afford to lose again to their arch-rivals, their 7-2 midweek defeat to Barcelona, Sunderland’s faltering form and you have a recipe for a passionate, no-holds-barred battle where, for some, for a few hours at least, the result matters more than life itself.

Pereira said: “He deserves the national team but it’s not my decision. I respect it but he has the quality and the character to be there.

“He is a fantastic player. He is a little bit sad and disappointed in this moment but these are the moments in our lives when we need to be stronger and come back to the fight.”

Forest have been in this situation before, experiencing three scraps against the drop in four seasons since their promotion in 2022.

Last season’s stirring campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo, with the team eventually finishing seventh, has been the outlier from the norm.

Could their previous dances with danger prove the difference in this year’s relegation scrap?

This is certainly a new experience for Tottenham. Despite their difficult season there was a clear sense of unity and it was not until the end that the atmosphere threatened to become remotely toxic.

There was also a pre-match video on the screens which included a rousing message from captain Cristian Romero who said “we’ll fight for everything, all together.”

Tottenham must now consider whether keeping Tudor in charge damages their chances of scrambling to safety.

After signs of encouragement against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, they were the better team here in a scrappy first-half.

Mathys Tel was a frequent menace on the left and Tottenham were almost handed a 16th-minute lead when Forest’s forward Igor Jesus headed a huge Kevin Danso throw against his own post.

Yet it was Jesus who provided the pivotal moment on the stroke of half-time, forcing a save from Guglielmo Vicario with a hooked shot on the turn.

From the corner, the £16.5m signing from Botafogo was unmarked in the middle of a busy penalty area to nod Neco Williams’s delivery into the opposite corner.

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‘A surprise, a shock, an absolute pleasure and unexpected’ is how Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight describes it feeling, watching the TV show becoming a true global phenomenon.

Starring Cillian Murphy as the fearsome titular gang from Small Heath’s leader Tommy Shelby, the series has moved from BBC Two to BBC One and now to Netflix, which is directly involved with producing new follow-up feature film, The Immortal Man.

And after a run in select UK cinemas, it’s now hit the streaming platform.

For the Birmingham-born writer, 66, it’s been an ‘incremental’ process he’s been able to track through various friends and family members’ holidays over the years to Spain, Buenos Aires and China, all of which featured a Peaky Blinders-themed bar.

‘The idea that it’s gone really around the world, to places you wouldn’t expect – a few months ago in Afghanistan, some young men were arrested for being dressed as Peaky Blinders – for me, it’s felt very personal, because it was about Birmingham, and was about my family and stuff like that,’ Knight explains.

‘What it does do for me, ultimately, is it gives me confidence that you can do something that is just what you think is good – and if you’re lucky, the world will agree.’

And the world has agreed plenty with Knight since then, as the man recently picked to pen the latest James Bond movie, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve, after the successes of his other popular programmes like SAS: Rogue Heroes, A Thousand Blows and – most recently, also for Netflix – House of Guinness.

The Immortal Man also reunites Knight, Murphy and other original cast members like Sophie Rundle with director Tom Harper, who helmed some of Peaky’s very first episodes in 2013 and is delighted to finally return.

‘It meant that when I came back, we already had this sort of springboard from which to catapult us into the movie,’ Harper shares, who directed the likes of The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (starring late Peaky alumna Helen McCrory) and 2019’s The Aeronauts.

‘Peaky Blinders has exploded since what it was then, and so to get the opportunity to come full circle and tell this chapter in the life of Tommy Shelby as a film, and fulfil some of the ambition and the cinematic quality that we always had in the series, but as part of this, at this at this point, is wonderful.’

New cast members for the movie, reflecting Peaky’s pedigree, include Tim Roth, Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

A proud son of Brum, Knight is delighted to have both re-invented Birmingham’s reputation among the British and promoted its profile worldwide with Peaky Blinders.

‘People from Birmingham tell me that when they go abroad and they start speaking, people say ‘Peaky Blinders’ as the first thing, which is great! I remember saying to one of my brothers, “I’m going to try and make the Birmingham accent sexy,” and he said, “Good luck with that!” But, you know, I think Cillian manages it.’

It’s felt very personal because it was about Birmingham and my family

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The Irish Oscar winner ably manages the notoriously tricky accent, when the same can’t always be said for his co-stars, and told Metro he was also determined to make it ‘cool’ rather than the butt of jokes – which is something Knight has also managed for the city as a whole.

‘That’s one of the things about the whole process that I’m very proud of,’ he adds.

Why do audiences idolise Tommy Shelby?

Tommy is, to all intents and purposes, a villain – he intimidates, beats and even kills many people while leading a gang that hides razor blades in the peaks of their trademark flat-caps (historians classify this as urban myth, but Knight disputes this, citing family testimony).

But audiences nevertheless adore him.

‘I always think of him as a good man doing bad things for a good reason, or at least a reason that he believes he’s good. So I think as an audience, you can empathise with him,’ muses Knight. ‘But I find it astonishing; I remember watching a scene where Arthur [Tommy’s troubled brother, played by Pau Anderson] attacks a completely innocent Quaker with a razor blade, and it’s completely unprovoked. And the person I was watching with said, “Oh, poor Arthur!”’

Peaky Blinders sits in the grey area, where two things can be true at once, agrees Knight.

‘For example, in the first series we had Campbell [played by Sam Neill], who was just judgement – judging everything that everybody did – but he was a baddie. He was right though, all the things he was saying were right, but he was the baddie.’

‘It’s important if the drama can explore how people have broken, the trauma that they go through, the violence that they’re subjugated to, and they then pass on to other people. That’s interesting, you know?’ Harper adds.

From the intensive research Knight has done for Peaky Blinders across the years, which has spanned 1919 and the aftermath of World War One to the dark days of the Blitz in the 1940s now with The Immortal Man, he classifies what his father and uncles told him as the most important aspects for shaping the Peaky universe as a whole.

‘My dad telling me about running barefoot when he was about eight years old with a message for the Peaky Blinders – knocks on the door, door opens, smell of cigarette smoke and whisky, and there’s a round table covered in money and seven men dressed immaculately with razor blades and guns, drinking whisky out of jam jars. And it’s just that thing that here are men who will do everything for their appearance, but they won’t buy any glasses or cups! That, for me, is research.’

Knight knew ‘from the beginning’ that he wanted to tie up the Peaky Blinders – or at least, this generation – during World War Two, given Tommy’s ongoing struggles with the previous war, even if specifics changed over the years.

‘When you get into the Peaky spirit, lots of stuff comes. But I think in the end, when the cast started coming together, and when we knew we’d got Tom – every series since series one the first question was, can we get Tom back? And he was always busy – that’s when you start to think more we can be quite expansive.’

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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The sun was fun while it lasted!

After blue skies and sunny spells this weekend, the weather forecast suggests a return to wintry weather this week.

According to the Met Office, a “weakening band of cloud and patchy rain” will move southeast across the UK, followed by sunny spells and scattered showers in the north and some of these showers may turn wintry over higher ground.

The forecaster has said that a shift to a cooler north‑westerly flow will bring a drop in temperature and more unsettled weather, “including some hill snow in the north and brisk winds at times”.

READ MORE: Northern Ireland weather latest as snow forecast in parts of UK after sunny weekendREAD MORE: New ‘joyous’ series follows expert judges on the hunt for Northern Ireland’s ‘Greatest Garden’

This is what the Met Office has forecast for Northern Ireland:

Monday:

A chilly, but dry and bright start, before rain spreads from the northwest in the afternoon. Light winds at first but fresh to strong southwest winds by the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.

Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

Windy on Tuesday, with some heavy rain before clearing to showers through the afternoon. Colder northwest winds Wednesday with wintry showers. Dry and bright Thursday morning, before rain spreads east.

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