Born in Rastrick, Yorkshire, UK. Widely published as a journalist, author and broadcaster. He was Head of Film Programming at National Media Museum (formerly National Museum of Photography, Film & Television) and Artistic Director of Bradford International Film Festival from 1999 to 2011. He has acted as interviewer and moderator on scores of on-stage 'Screentalk' interviews with the likes of Terry Gilliam, John Hurt, Kenneth Branagh, Jean Simmons, Jenny Agutter, Malcolm McDowell, many more. Several of these live Q&As have been turned into documentaries including Richard Attenborough: The Actors' Director and Jean Simmons: Rose of England. Earnshaw also regularly appears on British television and radio as a film pundit. His various credits include The Politics Show, Sky News, The 100 Greatest War Films, Film 2009 and, for Yorkshire Television, multiple seasons of Tonight, The Buzz, New Visions and Live Lunch. On Film Festival 2001, he was sole presenter. He has appeared in several short and feature films including The King's Speech, Cricket, Von Werra, Cinema of Horror and Leatherface Speaks. He is married and lives in Yorkshire.

Huge fan of Richard Burton. Earnshaw organized the first-ever Burton retrospective in 2002 as part of the 8th Bradford Film Festival, hosted by the UK's National Museum of Photography, Film & Television. Ten films were screened including Equus, Look Back in Anger, Becket and Where Eagles Dare.Head of Film Programming, National Media Museum (formerly National Museum of Photography, Film & Television) (UK). [1999-]Artistic Director, Bradford International Film Festival, Bradford, UK. [2000-]Film historian.