MG ZR bad starting.

My honeybunch 1.4 ZR has developed a bad starting habit. Cold, hot, in between. No difference. Turn the key it turns OK. after about 5-10 seconds turning it over it starts to kick but not start. 1,2,3,4, attempts and it starts and usually ticks over and runs fine. I say usually because sometimes it idles erratically, dropping to 750 and rising to 1250 for a few seconds then settling down to just under 1,000rpm. Tried new plugs momentarily slightly better, but after 1-2 weeks bad as ever. Should I try and find a computer readout garage(few and far between), or is there anything else to try before this. It always starts, but only after a lot of loving words such as xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx.