You DEFINETELY do NOT require a PPL to sit the theory exams.
PPL is required for modular ATPL theory exam.
PPL is not required for ATPL theory exam in integrated.
You can do PPL/CPL/IR without doing the ATPL theory, but taking instead the PPL theory, IR theory, CPL theory exams separetely for the respective courses.
The ATPL theory is not something I would run away from, but it is a possibility.
I was wondering if it would be possible to do all the licenses before doing the ATPL, for instance, if I did my PPL. CPL and IR in say spain and then returned to the UK to do ATPL exams, would I then be given a fATPL by the CAA? Many thanks to anyone that can answer this question
YES you can do that.