The Kids in the Hall make their long-awaited return to series television in January with their dark comedy, Death Comes to Town, the centrepiece of CBC-TV’s winter lineup.

Death Comes to Town is billed as a suspenseful murder mystery and is expected to debut in January alongside the Newfoundland-based detective drama, The Republic of Doyle.

CBC is also planning a biopic of loudmouth hockey announcer Don Cherry, called Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story, expected in March.

The public broadcaster revealed its winter programming plans in Toronto today with a star-packed presentation featuring the stars of its new series.

Kirstine Stewart, general manager of CBC Television, told attendees that the public broadcaster has been riding a hot streak of late.

“With the remarkable ratings growth for shows like Dragons’ Den, Battle of the Blades, Rick Mercer Report, Heartland and, in particular CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, fall 2009 was the strongest season we’ve had in more than five years,” she said. “CBC’s distinctly Canadian programming is proving to be popular with Canadian audiences, and we are thrilled to be offering more great entertainment for winter 2010.”

In terms of other new programming, CBC will launch family comedy 18 to Life on Monday nights. The series stars Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Michael Seater (Life With Derek, The Zack Files), as 18-year-old newlyweds. Special programming includes another round of Test the Nation on Jan. 24 and Love Letters “a one-hour exploration of love,” on Jan. 31, hosted by Gordon Pinsent.

The Kids’ eight-part comedy is about the murder of a high-profile citizen in small-town Ontario and will feature the comics in multiple roles.

It’s the first show from members Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson since their self-titled sketch comedy series went off the air on CBC in 1994.

Since then, each member has pursued independent projects in Canada and the United States.

Republic of Doyle, stars Newfoundland native Allan Hawco as the roguish private investigator Jake Doyle.