Director Shareholding

Next PLC
17 October 2001


Next ESOP Trust

On 17 October 2001 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 37,542 Ordinary Shares of 10p
each in Next plc to satisfy share options exercised by employees of the Company.

Executive Directors of Next plc who are participants in the Company share option
schemes are deemed to be discretionary beneficiaries of the Trust and are 
consequently considered to be interested in all of the shares held by the Trust 
which amount to 8,094,963.

The Next ESOP Trust has disposed of the following ordinary shares of 10p each in
Next plc:

Date of Disposal             No of Shares         Price Per Share 
16 October 2001               232,000                991.04p