Dan Dare

 was a character who fought the Mekon in the British children's comic Eagle. (PROSE: Time and Relative)

When Jason talked about how fictional characters were immortal, the Seventh Doctor completed his argument by noting that otherwise Dan Dare would be on his deathbed. (PROSE: Conundrum)

Behind the scenes

 * Lex Christian from the novel The Dying Days takes his name from the chaplain character that evolved into Dan Dare during development of the strip.
 * Andrew Skilleter named Who Dares Publishing by combining the names Doctor Who and Dan Dare with an added 's'. (REF: Blacklight)