Saturday Night Live season 42 loses Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah after both serving 6 years on show

Both are well known for their impressions on the show

Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah (Getty)

NBC has confirmed Saturday Night Live will return later this year without both Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah.

The two comedians have been part of the SNL team for over six years and are leaving to pursue other projects, leaving a massive hole in the line-up, especially when you consider the huge role both have played in commenting on previous US politics.

On the show, Pharoah was best known for his impressions of President Barack Obama, former GOP presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson, as well as Jay-Z, Will Smith, and Eddie Murphy.

Meanwhile, Killam portrayed dozens of characters, ranging from Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump to Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey.

Killam previously said he was surprised not to be returning to the show, previously telling Uproxx: “I had sort of had it in my head I would make this upcoming year my last year, but then heard they weren’t going to pick up my contract. I was never given a reason why, really.

“I honestly don’t know what happened on the other side, but I do know we had expressed I have work on this film and in bonding this picture, that has to get cleared with SNL”

The actor is going on to direct the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Why We’re Killing Gunther. The 42nd season of SNL will air this fall on NBC.