Director Shareholding

Next PLC
01 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

28 April 2003                    315,000                         940.9027p

29 April 2003                    200,000                         941.5558p


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

On 1 May 2003 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 30,000 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 8,205,721.


Mr W Barnes
Company Secretary
Next plc


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