Ian Kershaw was born in Oldham and trained at the Welsh College of Speech and Drama. As well as acting, he is also a scriptwriter and playwright and has played five minor roles in Coronation Street:
- Solicitor Howard Curtis in September 1995 and January 1996
- Weatherfield Gazette reporter Malcolm Bradford in January and March 1998 (the role was portrayed by actor Derek Hicks upon the character's return in November of the same year)
- Gazette reporter Duncan Stott in April 1999
- Journalist Mick Crompton in May 2001
- Ian Thompson, again a reporter, in August 2001 and January 2002.
In June 2018 he joined the writing staff of the programme making him one of eight people to have both written for and appeared on the programme - the others being Alick Hayes, Alan Downer, S. Keith James, Ray H. Dunbobbin, Stephen Mallatratt, Bob Mason and Martyn Hesford.
His other credits include Brookside, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Hillsborough, The Grand, Grafters, Casualty, City Central, Clocking Off, Sweet Medicine, Emmerdale, Christmas Lights, Fat Friends, Heartbeat, New Street Law and Jane Hall. He has also written episodes of Doctors, EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City and Shameless.
Ian is the husband of fellow former Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and they live near Glossop, Derbyshire with their daughter Martha.
Episodes written by Ian Kershaw
2018 (2 episodes)
- Episode 9484 (19th June 2018) (Co-written with Damon Alexis-Rochefort
- Episode 9496 (2nd July 2018) (Double episode)