In the summer of 2010, weeks after the Labour Party's electoral defeat, a period marked by widespread interest in the television show X Factor, Andy Burnham was interviewed about his aspirations to replace Gordon Brown as Labour leader. During the interview, Burnham expressed admiration for X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, calling her "gorgeous" and "down to earth," and stated he would choose her over Dannii Minogue. He also commented on Cole's ex-husband, Ashley Cole, questioning how he could have cheated on her.
At the time, Burnham, then shadow health secretary, appeared keen to cultivate an image as a confident and personable politician. He invited the interviewer to examine his eyelashes, a feature that had earned him the self-coined nickname "Make-Up Minister," with claims that he used mascara. He also spoke about his past relationships, boasting of having "lots of girlfriends when I was younger" and acknowledging the occasional awkwardness when former partners opened doors in his constituency.
Burnham also highlighted his connections with celebrities. He mentioned being close to David Beckham and Simon Cowell, and referred to Wayne Rooney as a "pal." The article notes that he has continued to campaign with figures like Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan, and is friends with football pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville. He has also reportedly sought connections with musicians such as Liam Gallagher, Guy Garvey, and the bands New Order and Oasis.
The interview also touched upon Burnham's past social life. When asked about drug use, he stated he frequented Manchester's Hacienda nightclub for the "music and alcohol," admitting he was "never the most sober at the party." Following his unsuccessful bid for the Labour leadership, Burnham reportedly offered to plan Ed Miliband's stag do, suggesting a pub crawl along the Circle Line.
Burnham has been married to Marie-France since 1989, whom he met while they were both students at the University of Cambridge.