The show features mostly German celebrities and TV personalities, as well as regular people's stories. Unlike many late night shows, "Johannes B. Kerner" does not open with Kerner holding any stand-up monologue and only has him sitting at a desk and talking with a number of guests seated next to him (usually 3 to 5). Also there is no regular live band in the studio. Since January 21, 2005 his Friday evening session has been transformed into a cooking show called "Kochen bei Kerner" (Cooking with Kerner). Normally the show features five chefs who each explain and prepare a course for an elaborate meal live and within one hour. After each cook has finished his or her dish Kerner and the others are tasting and informally judging it, before some people in the audience also receive a sample of it. The show regularly features chefs from German-speaking countries such as Johann Lafer, Alfons Schubeck, Tim Mälzer, Sarah Wiener, Ralf Zacherl and Horst Lichter, as well as occasionally some chefs like Jamie Oliver. Kerner married Britta Becker, a former field hockey World Cup and Olympic medalist for Germany in April 1996. They have four children: Emily Blomma (born January 1999), Nik David (born October 2001), Polly Marie (born 30 June 2007) and Jilly Lina (born 20 October 2009). The family currently resides in Hamburg, where his talk show is produced. On March 13, 2020 Kerner tested positive for COVID-19.