This is really interesting!! Do you know more auditions?
I only know this one from Wikipedia/Betty White:
“White was originally offered the role of Blanche in The Golden Girls, and Rue McClanahan was offered the role of Rose (the two characters being similar to roles they had played in Mary Tyler Moore and Maude, respectively). Jay Sandrich, the director of the pilot, suggested that since they had played similar roles in the past, they should switch roles, Rue McClanahan later said in a documentary on the series.”
No not really but am I right in thinking that all the actresses who appeared in the UK version of the show are still with us?
Not quite; Sheila Gish died in 2005. She was the youngest of the 4 too.
Wendy Craig, Sheila Hancock and Jean Boht are all still with us