'Turning a darker shade of Ronseal': Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten shows off trim bikini body as she pokes fun at her tan on holiday in Marrakech

PUBLISHED: 16:13, 28 April 2016 | UPDATED: 18:41, 28 April 2016

She's enjoying a relaxing break in the Moroccan sunshine.

And Gemma Oaten certainly looked as though she's been making the most of the sunny climes on her trip to Marrakech as she showcased her toned and tanned body in a new selfie on Thursday.

The former Emmerdale actress, 31, slipped into a monochrome zig-zag print bikini as she poked fun at the deep tan she has acquired during her three-day stint in north Africa.

Tan-tastic! Gemma Oaten certainly looked as though she's been making the most of the sunny climes on her trip to Marrakech as she showcased her toned and tanned body in a new selfie on Thursday

Writing alongside the snap, she said: 'Day 3 holibobs... Turning a darker shade of ronseal... @swimwear365 still loving my bikini collection, thank you.'

The Capital radio presenter displayed her taught tummy and toned abs, posing in her bedroom before going out to hit the beach again.

It's been a tough few weeks for the Hull-born former soap star, who split from her actor boyfriend Andy Barnes earlier this month.

But it seems she is handling heartbreak well, and from the start of her holiday has taken to social media to flaunt her enviably taut abs in a string of sizzling bikini selfies.

Beach babe: The 31-year-old former Emmerdale actress posed in a bright bandeau bikini earlier this week as she enjoyed her stint in Morocco

Getting away from it all has also given her the chance to reflect, and the star has sought inspiration in the self-help book 'Stop Thinking, Start Living'.

Posting a snap of the book cover, she told her Instagram followers: 'Can't recommend it highly enough for anyone who, sometimes, like me, let's their thoughts over take the here and now. '

Gemma certainly seemed to have picked up plenty of tips for happiness from her poolside read, looking happy and relaxed as she posed for a selfie in a vibrant colourful bikini on day one of her Moroccan break.

'Big thumbs up!' The former soap star put a brave face after her split from boyfriend Andy Barnes earlier this month in the sizzling selfie

The blonde beauty looked like the ultimate beach babe in her swimwear, which featured a stripy pattern in shades of blue, green and red.

Her long, blonde tresses cascaded past her shoulders and she highlighted her peepers with a striking slick of mascara.

Giving a thumbs-up to the lens, she captioned the Twitter shot: 'Big thumbs up for @Swimwear365 holiday mode actived!'

The snap-happy star showed off her toned, healthy frame in a similar bikini snap shared on her Instagram.

Jet-setter chic: The pretty actress shared a slightly more covered-up look, looking cute in denim dungarees over a white sports trim top as she prepared to jet off from Manchester airport

Rocking the same sexy bikini, she held up her index finger to indicate day one of her sun-soaked break in Marrakesh.

She wrote alongside the snap: 'Day one holibobs is on. We're here! Loving my @swimwear365 bikini. Thanks poppets! Woo!'

The actress' break comes in the wake of her split with Andy, who she had been dating since late 2015.

He reportedly broke off their five-month relationship due to feeling uncomfortable with her famous status.

'Gemma really thought Andy was for keeps,' a source told The Mirror. 'He was being very intense and had been with her at her family home. Then last Monday he turned round out of the blue and ended it.

'It was a bit of a shock to say the least. But Gemma is a strong woman, she has been through a lot and won't let this get her down. It is especially difficult for her as her granddad passed away recently.'

Heartbreak: The actress had been dating Andy since late 2015, but he reportedly broke off their five-month-relationship due to her celebrity status (pictured together on ITV1's This Morning in February)

Earlier on Tuesday the pretty actress shared a slightly more covered-up look on her Instagram, looking cute in denim dungarees over a white sports trim top.

Holding a Bloody Mary cocktail in one hand, and a bacon sandwich in the other, Gemma appeared in high spirits as she waited for her flight at Manchester airport.

She captioned the cheeky snap: 'I have a Bloody Mary, a bacon butty, @newlookfashion dungarees and very happy feet in @happysocksofficial for travel attire... Me jollies have begun!'

Gemma also shared a selfie of her lithe figure a month earlier.

Clad in just a black sports bra and knickers, the actress gave her preferred thumbs-up pose to the camera.

Sizzling: Gemma shared a selfie of her toned and lithe figure clad in just a black bra and knickers

Her long brunette tresses fell over one shoulder and she partially obscured her face with her phone, writing alongside the shot: 'Thank you @panachesport @lovepanache for the fab sports wear! Even Winnie the Pooh approves #fitness #motivation #healthy'

The actress recently revealed that having struggled with an eating disorder is one of the 'biggest heartbreaks' of her life, as she opened up about her 13-year personal battle during an appearance on Lorraine.

The 31-year-old soon became emotional after seeing the opening images of her when she was younger, later explaining: 'I think seeing those pictures, to be honest I haven't seen those in five or six years and wow, it brings back a lot of memories.

'I was petrified of starting school because I was being bullied,' she said. 'But here I am today and it's down to this wonderful woman my mum, and my dad who is backstage.'

Gemma is best known for playing Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale - a role which she took up in July 2011. She bid farewell to the ITV soap in August last year and now presents on Capital Radio.