ANDREW Denton is set to return to Australian television screens as host of a word-based game show in the style of QI.

Launching next year's season last night, TV head Kim Dalton announced the return of the former host of Enough Rope in his first on-screen work since 2009, as well as that of Shaun Micallef, who will present a weekly news and current affairs review show.

Shaun Micallef. Credit:Simon Schluter

In Kitchen Cabinet, journalist Annabel Crabb will raid the pantries of politicians in a show that casually blends cooking with political commentary.

Spearheading the drive to rebuild the ABC's reputation as an originator of risky and ambitious dramas are Redfern Now, the first drama series to be written, directed and produced by indigenous Australians, and The Straits, a 10-part drama by the production company behind The Slap, which is set among a family of smugglers in the Top End.