The cast could have been very different

Eventually Bea Arthur, Betty White, Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan were cast as retirees Dorothy, Rose, Sophia and Blanche.

But one other actress who auditioned for a part was late Broadway legend Elaine Stritch (pictured), who admitted years later she blew her chances by messing up her lines in front of producers.

She said: "I blew it. I didn't get the job. I blew a 35, 40 or maybe even 50 (if they wanted me badly enough) thousand dollars per episode."