Andy Burnham has been named as the new UK Culture Secretary - the third holder of the post in seven months.

The 38-year-old Cambridge graduate from Leigh in Manchester follows James Purnell, who was yesterday appointed Work And Pensions Minister.

Purnellhad onlybeen in the post since July last year, taking over from Tessa Jowell. He was promoted to his new role yesterday when Peter Hain resigned as police began an investigation into the funding ofhis campaign to be Prime Minister GordonBrown's deputy.

Burnham has experience of the culture portfolio having been special adviserat the departmentduring Tony Blair's first term and a researcher for former minister Tessa Jowell.

Everton fan Burnham's chief love is football and hehasrun award-winning campaigns onbehalf of fans.

He will need all that drive for his new role. Purnell took personal responsibility in big policy areas such asthe funding of Channel 4 and the BBC and new areas of digital entertainment, all of which had an effect on the film industry. Big areas of policy remainunresolved.

In his team is theminister directly responsible for film, a post that has also been something of a revolving door: incumbent Margaret Hodge arrived in 2007 to become the sixth minister in seven years.

Hodge followed, Shaun Woodward, Estelle Morris, James Purnell, Kim Howells and Janet Anderson.