Director Shareholding

Next PLC
23 May 2003


Next plc

Next ESOP Trust

The Next ESOP Trust has purchased the following Ordinary Shares of 10p each in
Next plc:

Date of Acquisition               No. of Shares             Price per Share

20 May 2003                       50,000                    990.6510p

21 May 2003                       150,000                   980.2967p

22 May 2003                       150,000                   991.0833p

The Next ESOP Trust was established for the benefit of employees of companies in
the Next plc Group.

On 23 May 2003 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 9,500 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 9,279,977.

Mr W Barnes

Company Secretary

Next plc


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