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I'm so relieved that my rhubarb was simply hiding over winter and is now showing signs of life...but we are forecast a week of frost/maybe snow. Should I/can I do anything or just leave it to fend for itself.

Many thanks for all the responses.

Our 12 clumps started shooting in January in a mild spell and then got royally frozen and snowed on in February.  I managed to get OH to tip heaps of compost on some of the heads but there wasn't enough to do half of them.  Even so, the exposed ones have survived and are growing again.   We've put old dustbins over a couple of the unprotected crowns to force them but the others will have to fend for themselves this time too.

It'll be fine. The stuff originated in central Asia, where the winters make ours look like mild spring weather.

Many thanks for the replies.  I think I was so surprised to see them resurface the other week when I was sure they hadnt made it through the last few months, that I didnt want their efforts in keeping going only to be thwarted in the current cold spell.

the early shoots can get burnt by the frost but the thing will keep on coming. if cockroaches do survive a nuclaer war, it will be rhubarb they're eating.

I keep hearing about forced rhubarb. I did some half-hearted experiments years ago, but they did not convince me.
However, I would not mind having some more rhubarb than we're having at the moment. Is it worth putting something over them?

Mine has sailed through the cold spell completely unaffected. Blanch it if you want; it'll make it more tender, but won't give you a crop much earlier.

More tender? Can't think what that would taste like. 

Yes, rhubarb is as hardy as artichoke, cold will just make it stop growing for a few days but it never seems to really harm it. Mine are through and are start to make their first leaves, but it's warmer here (well, almost! about 12 degC today).