A man shopping at his local Co-op in Birmingham was left astonished after realising the fellow customer at the self-service checkout was none other than a Netflix star.
Max, a surveyor from Birmingham, shared a video on social media showing the back of a shopper wearing a cream coat with an upturned collar. Viewers quickly identified the individual as Charlie Heaton, known for playing Jonathan Byers in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
Unexpected Encounter
Max captioned his footage: "Well, seeing Jonathan Byers shopping in my local Co-op in Birmingham wasn't on my bingo card for 2026." Heaton, who is originally from Leeds, has been spotted in Birmingham multiple times recently. While he resides in the US with his girlfriend and co-star Natalia Dyer, he is believed to be in the city filming the upcoming Peaky Blinders follow-up series.
His role in the spin-off, set a decade after the events of the Netflix film The Immortal Man, remains under wraps. However, he is expected to appear alongside Jamie Bell, who plays Duke Shelby—a character portrayed by Barry Keoghan in the original movie.
Privacy Concerns
The footage was captured from a distance, and Max reportedly did not approach or speak to the actor. Nevertheless, viewers were divided over whether recording him was appropriate. One person commented: "He's literally just buying groceries in peace, why are we filming him?" Another added: "Recording people secretly going about their daily lives is crazy." A third wrote: "He's only an actor at the end of the day who plays fictional characters. Just your average human who deserves privacy."
However, some expressed envy at the sighting. One user said: "Newhall St Co-op? Oh, now I'm p*****, that's like my local Co-op." Another lamented: "What?? I live in Birmingham, and I didn't see him!"
Charlie Heaton is best known for his role in Stranger Things but has also appeared in British favourites such as Vera and Casualty. His film credits include The New Mutants, Marrowbone, and As You Are.
