Exams after PPL?

[Carlito]

Guys, Big L,
I may not be posting in the correct forum but feel free to move me if you wish.
I am hoping to get my JAR-PPL(A) in the next couple of months. Weather permitting I've been flying 3-4 hours a week for the last year. I'd like to keep this up and so planned to go ahead and do the CPL and maybe an instructors rating. I'm not really a Wannabe, but I love flying and would like to do more in my spare time.
My question is this: Can I do the ATPL exams instead of the CPL exams and use this to get the CPL licence? I know it's a tough course but I'd have to sit the CPLs anyway. I'd prefer to do the lot instead of doing CPL exams and then facing into another 14 exams in a couple of years time.
Anybody done this?
Thanks,
Carlito
P.S. Is a frozen-ATPL = CPL with ATPL exams passed but not enough hours?

[Evo7]

The ATPL exams are fine for a CPL - only thing to look out for is that you have to get your IR within three years or the exam credits expire and you'll have to go through the whole business again.

A fATPL is a CPL/IR with ATPL exam passes - it is frozen until you get the required 1500 hours (with assorted caveats, e.g. 500 multi-crew) for the issue of a full ATPL.