Molly Shannon thinks Kenan Thompson could replace Lorne Michaels on Saturday Night Live

Molly, 60 - who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 until 2001 - told People: "It's his show, his vision.

"There's no one who could replace him. It would not be the same show. He's just a one-of-a-kind genius. Brilliant. Smart."

Despite this, Molly believes that Kenan - who has been a cast member on Saturday Night Live since 2003 - could potentially replace Lorne as the showrunner one day.

She said: "I love this idea. He's the greatest - I adore Kenan.

"[Kenan is] so talented. That's an excellent idea."

Kenan is widely seen as a central part of the Saturday Night Live cast - but he previously played down his own importance to the show.

He told NPR: "I'm tough with self-praise, I guess, but I am definitely an ensemble-minded individual. And if that echoes across, you know, in a way that people want to consider me as a glue, great, you know?

"But I just try to go out there and do my job and, you know, give showcase to these brilliant writers and brilliant minds and all of our departments - makeup and hair and directors and this, that and the other. You know what I mean?

"Just ... Trying to be a team player. But those things come along with being consistent, which is definitely, you know, much appreciated."

Kenan also admitted that he doesn't know how long he'll remain on Saturday Night Live.

He explained: "I'm supposed to be there through the 50th, but that's all I know as far as what they want from me kind of thing. And then what I want at this point?

"Yeah, I mean, I could see myself, like, hanging it up. It's been a long run. You know what I mean? But at the same time, I could also see myself being the guy that never left kind of thing. I don't really know. It's kind of, like, still a blank canvas."