The present inventions enhances the brightness at a center portion of a display screen in a liquid crystal display device used in a TV set having a direct backlight. Odd-number pieces of fluorescent lamps are used in the inside of the backlight. Using external electrode fluorescent lamps as the fluorescent lamps, electrodes of the respective fluorescent lamps can be connected in common. Further, one fluorescent lamp can be arranged at the center of the display screen. Due to such a constitution, the liquid crystal display device can effectively ensure the brightness at the center of the display screen.