So it's been dead, after attempting all the recommended steps to get it working with no effect, and with the iPod not even being recognised as a device by my eMac, I had pretty much discarded it, to be fixed or replaced when I can afford it.

Chris was messing with it just now, and I thought I'd plug it into Gemma's PC on the offchance that anything had changed... and voila. Firmware updated, iPod restored, currently putting Gemma's music collection, and the 30 or so album's I've put on her computer, onto my iPod.

If it works, and at the minute it's all looking brilliant, I will be a VERY happy man.