White writers have problems producing believable black characters, and this one was so bad that everyone could forgive Rose for not realising he had turned into a plastic mannequin by the Doctor's foe. I preferred him like that. When not plasticized he was pathetic, scared, wide-eyed and hapless. A fabulous role model - not.

Rather than redeem itself in the second episode, the programme cast the black actor as an alien tree. Now you could say that the only thing worse than plastic acting is wooden acting. Of course, in true landing-party style, Rose got burnt. I'm not trying to be funny here, but the writers and those casting Doctor Who do seem to be on another planet.

There has been a lot of talk about positive role models for young African and Caribbean boys in the UK. Positive role models in society may improve kids' results at school. They offer a sense of belonging and being part of the mainstream. They give you something to aim for. But negative role models marginalise black kids, increasing their interest in other sources of positive affirmation, pride and respect, such as gangs, hip-hop and gun culture.

The BBC may think it is doing its bit by having black presenters and other characters on TV. But that is not what inspires people. For that you need black people to be protagonists and heroes. And you rarely find black heroes on TV. Those you do see are policemen - but the positive message here is usually undermined by the fact they spend their time arresting other black people. Currently the most high-profile black protagonist is Adrian Lester in Hustle, who plays Mickey Stone the leader of a group of confidence tricksters - need I say more.

But here is an idea. Christopher Eccleston, the ninth incarnation of the doctor is giving up at the end of the series. A new Doctor is required. All of them so far have been white men. Why can't the tenth Doctor be black?

The nine Doctors so far have been very different. They have ranged from blue eyed "nordic" types like Peter Davidson (1981-84), to those with more Mediterranean features, for instance Sylvester McCoy (1987-89). The amount of genetic variation between the Doctors is more than the genetic variation between someone who is black and someone who is white. So at least the science works. As for the science fiction, I think the basic plot will stand it, given that the Doctor is an alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who, by virtue of his people's unique physiology, is able to recover from mortal injuries by developing a new body and personality.

Doctor Who is pre-watershed and likely to be watched by schoolkids. A disproportionate number of these are from ethnic minorities. I think it would say a lot about how far this country has come if the BBC took up the challenge and unveiled a black Doctor.

They might think that this would be political correctness gone too far. They probably think the public would not find it acceptable. But you could argue that if 10 per cent of the licence fees come from people who are from ethnic minorities, then one in ten of the Doctors should also.

Dr McKenzie is a societal psychiatrist, specialist in causes of mental illness, racism and social capital

• Mickey was an unfortunate character who just happened to be played by a black actor. He is due to return in several more episodes so it may well be that he improves over the weeks. The real problem, and the one which makes the Mickey situation so noticeable, is that in the past Doctor Who featured very few non-white actors, and none in high positive roles. Why that was is unclear but the series makers should address this in the next series. Eddie Farrier, Liverpool

  No one has a problem with Mickey being black and a bit useless, just that he was the only black character portrayed, and this is quite common on mainstream television. Every useless woman (Rose's mother, for example) or white man is balanced out by a competent one, but all too often the only black character is stupid, criminal, or a combination. No one is asking for all non-white characters to be paragons of virtue, but a more realistic range would be appreciated. James Mathurin, London

  If the BBC were to decide on a black doctor, I think the best choice would definitely be Lenny Henry. Aside from being a comedic genius, he also has a commanding stage presence, an extremely powerful voice, and would be able to provide a character that would be distinct from the others while maintaining the basic foundations of the character. Frankly, I don't care about his color, I just think Lenny Henry would be a good Doctor. Rom McGrath, Silver Spring, Maryland

  I appreciate Dr McKenzie's comments and as a long-time fan of Doctor Who, I agree that there is no compelling reason why the Doctor could not be black.(And the 1 in 10 argument strikes mean as one good reason why he should be.) I do suspect that making that a pivotal issue of the character's regeneration would be disastrous. Best for everyone if the Doctor simply found himself waking up with a darker skin colour and, with no further comment, got on with being the hero and adventurer he has always been. Stephen Wilson, Cincinnati, Ohio

  I think the casting of Mickey in Doctor Who was a case of colour-blind casting, the best actor for the part who just happened to be black. Surely that is a step forward? Isn’t it just as unhelpful to say that a character must be a positive role model because he is black? Having said that, although it seems the money is on the brilliant David Tennant, for years I have wanted to see the great actor Paterson Joseph as the next Doctor Who. Having seen his performances in Neverwhere, Casualty, The Beach and Elmina's Kitchen at the National Theatre I think he would be marvellous in the role. Simon Burt, Wakefield

  I am black and work in broadcasting, but would hate Dr Who being black for any contrived reason. Real diversity and equality will be achieved when more diverse stories from all parts of Britain’s, and the world's, communities are told. I find the spectacle of Donald Sinden and the like rolling their eyes and corked up to play Othello profoundly objectionable. I feel equally strongly about anything but the creativity of the writers determining the racial identity of Doctor Who (or James Bond, or anyone else, for that matter). Jon Bay, London

  I get very frustrated by the notion that converting the ethnicity of traditionally white figures within British culture will somehow bring about a colour-blind utopia of peace and harmony. The character of Doctor Who borrows heavily from Sherlock Holmes and the stories of Jules Verne, all of which centred around a unique form of white male eccentricity. Wolf Morgan, Winchester

  If young black guys need good black role models (which I doubt - what every young guy of any colour needs is just good role models, of any colour), then what they certainly don't need is someone making excuses for them or the choices they make. Give people the credit for being who they are - not just their achievements, but for their mistakes, and stop being so patronising. A black Pope, a black Doctor Who, a black PM is not going to change the way some 20-year-old black guy in Glasgow acts. Gesture politics, of quotas and inverted discrimination, is as misguided as the filth spewed out by the BNP. Stop seeing people in terms of their skin colour, stop building the walls of the ghetto with self-pity - we all have to make our own luck in this world. Sean Hunter, Glasgow

  Christopher Eccleston chose to play the part with a Northern accent precisely to counteract the implication of the original series that you could only be heroic and intelligent if you were posh. Casting a black actor would have as much of a positive effect, if not more, although it would be sad if someone were chosen just for that reason, rather than for their acting prowess. Matt Kimpton, Cambridge

  The Doctor is supposed to take on the colouring of whatever race is predominant in the society in which he finds himself reincarnated. We will get a black Doctor if the next series is set in Africa, or a future society where the majority are black. It would be too much to expect the white writer of the series to invent a whole new world, with its subtle in jokes. I think if blacks and other ethnic types want to be more represented, they will have to invent their own series, in their own culture, as they do in China, Taiwan and Singapore. Anthony Wong, London

  Absolute rubbish! There is no reason why there can't be a black Time Lord, to show that Galifrey is multiracial (which I think may have been demonstrated in The Keys to Time). But I don't see any reason why there should be a black Doctor. Being black and having been a fan of the programme for 35 years, I think it would be ruined it if started to pander to notions of political correctness. Anyway, Dr McKenzie, the Sontarans are black. Martyn Marquess, Bankok

  I am reminded of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart's comment in the series' tenth anniversary story, "The Three Doctors": "As long as he does the job, he can wear whatever face he likes." If Lenny Henry wants to do it, yes, let's see him in the role. Same for Craig Charles. To me, it doesn't matter what he looks like, or where he comes from. Joey Reynolds, West Palm Beach, Florida

  While I will admit Mickey was a joke it’s not a requirement that all black people on TV should be upstanding, highly intelligent characters, which many are written as. As a white male I can say I watch most television shows or commercials and white males are typically represented as constantly wrong, clueless or completely inferior to females or minorities. Ryan Pearcy, Columbia, USA

  Send your comments on this article using the form below, and they will be considered for publication. It may be necessary to edit your contribution. Wherever possible we would like you to include your name and town of residence. Priority will be given to e-mails providing these details.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive