Hldg in Co/Directors Shrhldg

Next PLC
12 October 2001



Next plc

Disclosure of Interest in shares - Section 198 Companies Act 1985

The Company has today been notified by Zurich Scudder Investments that Zurich 
Financial Services and its Group no longer has a notifiable interest in the 
Ordinary Shares of 10p each of Next plc.


Next ESOP Trust

On 12 October 2001 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 38,000 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 9,148,005.