It could have been any other day without anyone raising a voice against fracking industry or the imminent threat of Greg Clark overruling Lancashire county council's decision to say no to the industry.
Instead, Emma Thompson and her sister Sophie occupied the field leased by a local landowner for shale gas drilling, baked some cakes and raised a media sh*t storm.
RT: Emma & Sophie Thompson breaking court injunction to protest #fracking. Tweet @gregclarkmp to say you back them! pic.twitter.com/b1s1E7DANO
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) April 27, 2016
Wondering where in Lancashire Emma Thompson's frack-free #bakeoff is? Between Preston & Blackpool, here to be exact! pic.twitter.com/B9o14hT6cj
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) April 27, 2016
As messages of support flooded in from the people of Lancashire, and from across the UK, the sisters got down to the serious business of the baking competition.
“We are thrilled that Emma and Sophie Thompson have come here to support us. It isn't right that the only decision we get is which is the best cake made on the site where Cuadrilla want to frack. The majority of people in the local community do not want fracking to happen here and we are reflecting years of protest. The landowner, who is leasing the land to Cuadrilla, performed a drive-by in his tractor and released a large amount of manure near the Bake Off studio. The stink was temporary - unlike the impact of fracking on this community if Cuadrilla get their way." - Kate Styles, local cake shop owner and anti-fracking activist judging the Frack Free Bake Off
Was this an occupation, a protest, or a #BAKEOFF!
"IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIGHT AND AIRY!" Emma puts some elbow grease into her #BakeOff effort https://t.co/g1mYiGamrq pic.twitter.com/qnafbf9uTc
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) April 27, 2016
Then just as the sisters/competitors were getting their cakes ready, the local landowner helped make this a day to remember, threatening to add icing to the cake.
Our reporter @inzyrashid captures actress Emma Thompson having muck spread around her during anti-fracking event. pic.twitter.com/5tTnPyiKxz
— Rock FM News (@RockFMNews) April 27, 2016
The show must go on - and no cakes were harmed during the incident. The people voted - both for their favourite cake and against fracking with thousands of tweets telling Greg Clark, Secretary of State, why fracking isn't welcome here - or necessary for baking.
#BakeOff voting time! Do you vote for #TeamEmma Thompson's wind turbine cake? Or #TeamSophie Thompson's solar cake? pic.twitter.com/luf2TC3iIc
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) April 27, 2016
But this Bake Off isn't over yet.......
Head to the #BakeOff page and let Greg Clarke know why you stand against fracking (and to watch the full Bake Off episode)
Some of the tweets from people across UK
.@gregclarkmp Fracking damages our precious environment, pollutes the water and poisons the Land. https://t.co/0d6Csx0t4k #BakeOff
— Robin Ellis (@RobinPoldark) April 27, 2016
.@gregclarkmp Besides concerns about damage to health & environment, fracking is a matter of democracy https://t.co/paXBfZB6QB #BakeOff
— NoFrackingBarnsley (@NoFrackBarnsley) April 27, 2016
.@gregclarkmp Fracking is bad for the Countryside, bad for people's health, renewable is the way forward. https://t.co/vyfJv2Cd17 #BakeOff
— Celine Chaplin (@Celine_Chaplin) April 27, 2016
.@gregclarkmp Fracking is madness! the earth needs our protection https://t.co/MCwq61p9uq #BakeOff
— Dr Jan Goss (@drjangoss) April 27, 2016
.@gregclarkmp Fracking has been proven to be hazardous in the USA and Australia. Not on our land! https://t.co/oj4dhCizvi #BakeOff
— Tim Austin (@timaustin2k) April 27, 2016