Who's a pretty boy then? Labour minister Andy Burnham glams up for Question Time

But one wonders what our heroes of the rugby field and cricket pitch would make of Andy Burnham with his long eyelashes, trim eyebrows and what may be a touch of mascara.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport spent yesterday denying claims that he had layered on the make-up for an appearance on Question Time. He said he had suffered a life-long problem of people thinking he was wearing cosmetics when he was not.

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Polished: Andy Burnham - complete with what appear to be manicured eyebrows - on Question Time last night; the Culture Secretary as he usually looks

Producers of the BBC1 programme received a flood of texts about Mr Burnham's appearance when the show went out on Thursday night.

Some viewers questioned whether the make-up department had been a little overzealous. Others wondered if he had decided on a makeover in keeping with his role in Government, plucking his eyebrows, plumping up his lashes and applying a dab of fake tan.

One said: "What's with the makeup? Pink lipstick, pastel eye-shadow, eyeliner and mascara." Another added: "He looked like a doll."

But yesterday Mr Burnham, 38, said: "I had an email in my constituency office saying 'what mascara-do you use?'".

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"I can only say, hand on heart, that I have never ever worn mascara." He said he had suffered similar claims all his life, even at school.

Sources at the BBC came to his aid, saying the only cosmetics he had on was the face powder used to prevent studio guests looking shiny.