Ian Kershaw was born in Oldham and trained at the Welsh College of Speech and Drama. As well as acting, he is also a fledgling playwright and has played five minor roles in Coronation Street: Solicitor Howard Curtis in September 1995 and January 1996; Gazette reporters Malcolm Bradford in 1998 and Duncan Stott in April 1999; journalist Mick Crompton in May 2001; and finally Ian Thompson, again a reporter, in August 2001 and January 2002.

His other credits include roles in 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 Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and they live near Glossop, Derbyshire with their daughter Martha.