I checked all the coils and found one faulty one. The car same with a full set of spares (brand new but aftermarket) so I fitted one of those.
The cam belt is reasonably new and in good condition, and all the timing marks are spot on.
After all that it started... Really choppy and lumpy, and only for about 10 seconds, but it ran. After a few more tries it suddenly fired up spot on.
I took it for a drive and it feels fine although the gearbox sounds like a straight cut racing box - better make sure it has some oil in it. After that it would start perfectly every time - until I left it over night.
This morning it wouldn't start at first, then it started (lumpy choppy), then after a while it started fine again.
So.... It's a sensor problem. The only question is, which one? I'm thinking it's either the CTS or the throttle body. As it's throwing up an occasional EML from the MAP sensor, the throttle body looks more likely although it's acting like it's a CTS fault.
She's fighting a good fight, but I'll get her sorted yet!