Director Shareholding

Next PLC
20 January 2004

Next plc

Next ESOP Trust

On 20 January 2004 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 20,289 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 8,322,188.

Mr A J McKinlay

Company Secretary

Next plc


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange