Good evening I am having a random fault when trying to start my car I have with some help traced it to the ignition switch some times you turn the key and it starts first time other times it is total dead when it's dead if you turn it off give the console a smack near the key then it starts so what I was going to ask is it a easy job to replace the ignition switch or is there a repair that any body has done to there's cheers

You could initially try pulling up the gear lever surround and giving all the exposed metal-work a good dose of WD40 whilst working the gear selector lever.
Although this link is a different fault, the principle is the same.

http://www.fullfatrr.com/wiki/Key_stuck_in_ignition

You just might be lucky something is sticking due to corrosion. If it doesn't work you're back to the ignition switch.

I had similar issues last year, and in the end the ignition switch 'died' completely and had to get it recovered. At that time I wasn't too familiar with the car, so got it done at a LR approved workshop, new battery and ignition switch £800

apparently you can get just the electrical switch part of the assembly, and having looked inn the workshop manual on the WIKI I don't think it would be a terrible job, just time consuming stripping the centre console out. My car is a 2006, but the switch is the same as the earlier cars.  2006 (56 Reg) 4.4 V8 Vogue In Bonatti Grey (Gorgeous!!)