Five has signed up poet Simon Armitage, whose TV credits include the award-winning "prison opera" Feltham Sings, to provide lyrics for a documentary commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of the second world war in May.

Armitage's specially commissioned lyrics will form part of what the broadcaster is describing as a "poetic film" and be set to personal testimony from war veterans, dramatic reconstructions and archive footage.

"The idea was to do something a little different to mark the anniversary. Simon Armitage is an exciting poet whose work combines humour and realism but also critical seriousness," said the Five controller of history, Alex Sutherland.

"This film will be full of stories of heroism and realism and celebration, but also violence, sadness and death, and I'm sure Simon will bring a really exciting and contemporary approach to it."

The 45-minute documentary, which will be broadcast in May to celebrate the 60th anniversary of VE Day, is to be made by independent producer Talkback Thames.

Armitage also provided the lyrics for Feltham Sings, the critically acclaimed Channel 4 musical set in a young offenders' institution, which were sung by inmates and prison officers.

He based the lyrics on months of interviews with inmates and their warders.

Feltham Sings, broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2002, went on to win awards including a Bafta and an Ivor Novello.

The Five director of programmes, Dan Chambers, last year revealed his ambition to commission more poetry and philosophy - a surprise move upmarket for the network once defined by the "three Fs" of football, fucking and films.

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