Jessica Szohr and Taylor Momsen to leave Gossip Girl

Actresses Jessica Szohr and Taylor Momsen are to be written out of teen-drama series Gossip Girl.

TVLine is reporting the two will not appear in the fifth season as part of the regular cast but have been asked to guest-star during the course of the season. Taylor Momsen plays the troubled Jenny Humphreys and has been part of the Gossip Girl cast since its pilot. However, the actress has notably absent from episodes of Gossip Girl this year as she concentrates on her music career. Her departure from Gossip Girl as part of the regular cast therefore is not surprising. Jessica Szohr, who plays Vanessa, joined Gossip Girl during the course of its first season and was quickly made a regular on the show.

The departure of the two from the regular cast marks the first major shake-up in Gossip Girl’s regular cast. TVLine also reports that actor Kaylee DeFer, who joined recently as Serena’s cousin Charlie, will be promoted to the regular cast. Actors Penn Badgley, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick and Leighton Meester will continue in their respective roles.