The show contains satirical sketches with self-referential humour, along with segments of news clips paired with music (Cantopop in particular), and content from guest contributors.

Headliner, being critical of the government of Hong Kong, was suspended indefinitely in May 2020 after the Communications Authority warned the broadcaster for "insulting" the police force in an episode aired on 14 February.

[3] On 5 July 2017, a first-run episode of the Headliner which aired a speech by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party – who was visiting Hong Kong that week – was cancelled by TVB.

[6] In February 2020, the Hong Kong Police Force issued an official complaint to the Director of Broadcasting of RTHK about an episode aired on 14 February, objecting in particular to a sketch where a cast member dressed as a police officer suggested that the force stockpiled large amount of personal protective equipment while leaving other government departments and medical workers short amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

[12] Within one day, the Headliner team's post had received some 197,000 thumbs up emojis by lunchtime,[12] and over 250,000 signatures were collected in an online petition in support of the programme by April.