Jacob Dudman's 11th Doctor

I think the only way that happens is if Matt definitively rules out ever reprising the role for BF.

I cannot vouch for Jacob Dudman's portrayal as I have not heard him, but I doubt that Matt would not return at some point. Christopher Eccleston's recent return proved that it makes newsprint aimed at non listeners and reminds general viewers of their connection to the role. Everyone needs a boost at some stage and the show is a solid touch point for many an actor or writer.

I am sure (hope) that sometime not too distant he may decide that it is a good move to reconnect to the role in this way. And after all, it served him well without pigeon holing him.

That's an optimistic view of mine - he was very good as the Doctor and has enough vocal appeal as much as his physical portrayal to make it a decent prospect for an Audio only return. It was a disappointment of mine that he did not do the Audiobook narrations of the BBC releases like his predecessor when in the role, though.

Have said over and over...while I am not even a little bit interested in recasts, I do actually think Jake Dudman is a talented actor, and I think it would be great of Big Finish to cast him in a role all his own. Ongoing companion to a Doctor? A co-star in a Worlds of DW or Originals or Classics title? A mysterious new arrival in Collinsport? I don’t know, but just give that boy a role to sink his teeth into - I quite liked him in The Stranger and would love to see him given a chance at sometime substantive.

I think it really depends on how well the full cast Eleventh Doctor Chronicles go down. If they sell well, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see River showing up in the next Chronicles set. I could also definitely see Big Finish slipping Dudman into the next River set too - actually, I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t happened yet. Regardless whether Matt Smith comes back or not, I think the floodgates have pretty much been truly open at this point.

How I feel about this... well, I’m still not sure. I still don’t like the idea of full-cast Eleventh Doctor stories without Matt, but they’re happening. I get why they’re doing this, but it’s not something that excites me all that much. To me, there’s going to have to be a distinct advantage to buying non-Matt Smith full cast stories that I just haven’t seen just yet. And I would REALLY prefer if we waited until Matt Smith returns to have a full-cast adventure with Eleven and River. It just wouldn’t have the same appeal otherwise and it’d take me out of the story more if we had Dudman’s Eleven meet River because the entire time I’d be wondering how this would have played out with Matt or just searching for a flaw in the impression/performance. It’s different for me when the recast part’s original actor is no longer with us (though I sometimes still do this with Three and the Brig despite how much I really, really enjoy Treloar and Culshaw’s performances).

I could really go on and on about it, but I’m already drifting too off topic and I don’t want to get too mean-spirited! I’m sure there’s some great ideas for Eleven and River regardless of how they appear together and I certainly hope we get them.

I think Matt's already done stuff for BF that will release next year. He's done loads of Doctor Who conventions/interviews in lockdown, so he clearly still has a lot of love for the show. Also, in the announcement for the new ranges starting from 2022, the opening text from the article says "Commencing January 2022, Big Finish will relaunch its regular Doctor Who release schedule as a series of dedicated ranges for each of the first twelve incarnations of the Doctor."

Since the new War Doctor Begins series has been announced, this would make the first twelve incarnations 1-11 + war. I doubt that they'd extend Dudman's portrayal outside of the Doctor Chronicles range for now (aside from cameos here and there), so I think it's actually very likely that Matt's been recording and we're just waiting for an announcement.